THE    HEAD    AND     SHOULDERS    OF    A    MAN    INTENTLY    STUDYING 
THEM 


KLONDIKE   NUGGETS 


AND 


HOW  TWO  BOYS  SECURED  THEM 


BY 


E.  S.  ELLIS 


AUTHOR   OF 

Deerfoot  Series,"   "  Boy-Pioneer  Series,"  etc. 

24  ILLUSTRATIONS    AFTER 

ORSON  LOWELL 


DOUBLEDAY  &  McCLURE  CO. 
NEW   YORK 

1898 


Copyright,  1898,  by 
DOUBLEDAY  &  McCLURK  C<X 


PS  \S&e\ 

G^ 

K  SU 

l£<iS 
hn«  //; 

CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  GOLD-HUNTERS 3 

AT  JUNEAU, 13 

UP  THE  LYNN  CANAL, 37 

THE  AVALANCHE .  47 

THROUGH  CHILKOUT  PASS 58 

A  SIGNIFICANT  DISCOVERY, 71 

THE  PLOTTERS, 80 

ON  LAKE  BENNET, 90 

INTO  BRITISH  TERRITORY, 100 

AT  WHITE  HORSE  R^HDS, in 

ON  THE  YUKON, 120 

AT  DAWSON  CITY 131 

ON  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  GOLD-FIELDS 141 

PROSPECTING, 151 

A  FIND, 159 

THE  CLAIM, 169 

A  GOLDEN  HARVEST 180 

A  STARTLING  DISCOVERY, 191 

THE  TRAIL  INTO  THE  MOUNTAINS,       ....  200 
A  SOUND  FROM  OUT  THE  STILLNESS,         .         .         .      209 

A  TURNING  OF  THE  TABLES, 218 

A  LION  IN  THE  PATH, 227 

A  GENERAL  SETTLEMENT  OF  ACCOUNTS,      .         .         .  236 
CONCLUSION, 246 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE 

THE  HEAD  AND  SHOULDERS  OF  A  MAN    INTENTLY    STUDY 
ING  THEM Frontispiece. 

JEFF, 9 

"  RO SWELL,  DO  YOU  KNOW  THAT  STRANGE  MAN  HAS 

BEEN    FOLLOWING    US    FOR    THE   PAST    HOUR?".  33 

CATCHING    THE    EYE    OF    THE    AMAZED    BOYS,    TIM 

WINKED,  ........  43 

THE  TENT-POLES  WERE  SHOVED  DOWN    INTO    THE   SNOW,       53 

ALL  JOINED  IN  PUSHING  AND  PULLING  ONE  SLED,  .       .  65 

SUDDENLY  HARDMAN  MADE  A  SIGN,  .        .        .  75 

"YOU'RE  A  PRETTY  FELLOW  TO  STAND  GUARD,"  SAID 

FRANK, 85 

"OH,  LOOK  THERE!   ISN'T  IT  DREADFUL?"      .        .  97 

"  WE'RE  AT  THE  FUT  OF  THE  LAKE,"  SHOUTED  TlM,          .    IO5 
THE   CURRENT     WAS     NOT    ONLY    VERY    SWIFT,    BUT    THE 

CHANNEL  WAS  FILLED  WITH  ROCKS,    .        .        .      1 13 
TIM  AND  JEFF  LIT  THEIR  PIPES  ;  HARDMAN  SAT  APART,  127 

AND   THE   THREE   CHEERS  WERE  GIVEN  WITH  A  WILL,        .     137 
"  I    DON'T    SEE    THE    USE    OF    YOUR    HARPING  ON   THAT 

AFFAIR,"    SAID   HARDMAN H7 

"IT'S  GOLD!"   HE  EXCLAIMED 161 

THE  BOYS  STOOD  ATTENTIVELY  WATCHING  THE  OPERA 
TION,  J75 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PAGE 
"  I   HAVE  JUST  THOUGHT  WHAT   TlM*S  BUSINESS  IS  AT 

DAWSON,"  SAID  FRANK,          .....  189 
"WE  HAVE  BEEN  ROBBED  !    ALL  THE  GOLD  IS  GONE,"  IQ5 

THE  TELL-TALE  FOOTPRINTS, 2O3 

WATCHING  AT  THE  TURN  IN  THE  TRAIL,       .         .         .215 
"  HANDS  ur,  YOUNKER  !" 223 

"WE    HAVE    MADE  A  MESS    OK    IT,"  WAS   THE   DISGUSTED 

COMMENT    OF    FRANK, 23! 

TlM    AND    HIS    PRISONERS, 24! 

"SAY,  TIM,  YOU  HAIN'T  ANY  IDEA  OF  GOING  TO  COL 
LEGE,   HAVE   YOU?"  ......    251 


KLONDIKE  NUGGETS 

AND 

HOW  TWO  BOYS  SECURED  THEM 


KLONDIKE  NUGGETS  AND 
HOW  TWO  BOYS  SECURED  THEM. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE    GOLD-HUNTERS. 

JEFF  GRAHAM  was  an  Argonaut  who  crossed 
the  plains  in  1849,  while  he  was  yet  in  his  teens, 
and  settling  in  California,  made  it  his  perma 
nent  home.  When  he  left  Independence,  Mo. , 
with  the  train,  his  parents  and  one  sister  were 
his  companions,  but  all  of  them  were  buried  on 
the  prairie,  and  their  loss  robbed  him  of  the 
desire  ever  to  return  to  the  East.  Hostile 
Indians,  storm,  cold,  heat,  privation,  and  suf 
fering  were  the  causes  of  their  taking  off,  as 
they  have  been  of  hundreds  who  undertook  the 
long  journey  to  the  Pacific  coast  in  quest  of 
gold. 


4  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

Jeff  spent  several  years  in  the  diggings,  and 
after  varying  fortune,  made  a  strike,  which 
yielded  him  sufficient  to  make  him  comfort 
able  for  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  never  mar 
ried,  and  the  income  from  his  investments  was 
all  and,  indeed,  more  than  he  needed  to  secure 
him  against  want. 

He  was  now  past  threescore,  grizzled,  some 
what    stoop-shouldered,    but    robust,    rugged, 
strong,    and,    in  his    way,   happy.     His  dress 
varied  slightly  with  the  changes  of  the  seasons, 
consisting   of   an   old  slouch  hat,  a  red  shirt, 
coarse  trousers  tucked  in  the  tops  of  his  heavy 
boots,  and  a  black  neckerchief  with  dangling 
ends.     He  had  never  been  addicted  to  drink, 
and  his  only  indulgence  was  his  brierwood  pipe, 
which  was  his  almost  inseparable  companion. 
His  trousers  were  secured  at  the  waist  by  a 
strong  leathern  belt,  and  when  he  wore  a  coat 
in  cold  weather  he  generally  had  a  revolver  at 
his  hip,  but  the  weapon  had  not  been  discharged 
in  years. 

There  were  two  members  of  that  overland 
train  whom  Jeff  never  forgot.  They  were 
young  children,  Eoswell  and  Edith  Palmer, 
who  lost  both  of  their  parents  within  five  years 


THE  GOLD-HUNTERS.  5 

after  reaching  the  coast.  Jeff  proved  the  friend 
in  need,  and  no  father  could  have  been  kinder 
to  the  orphans,  who  were  ten  and  twelve  years 
younger  than  he. 

Roswell  Palmer  was  now  married,  with  a 
son  named  for  himself,  while  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Mansley,  had  been  a  widow  a  long  time,  and 
she,  too,  had  an  only  son,  Frank,  who  was  a 
few  months  older  than  his  cousin.  The  boys 
had  received  a  good  common-school  education, 
but  their  parents  were  too  poor  to  send  them 
to  college.  Jeff  would  have  offered  to  help  but 
for  his  prejudice  against  all  colleges.  The 
small  wages  which  the  lads  received  as  clerks 
in  a  leading  dry-goods  house  were  needed  by 
their  parents,  and  the  youths,  active,  lusty, 
and  ambitious,  had  settled  down  to  the  career 
of  merchants,  with  the  hoped-for  reward  a 
long,  long  way  in  the  future. 

One  evening  late  in  March,  1897,  Jeff  opened 
the  door  of  Mr.  Palmer's  modest  home,  near 
the  northern  suburb  of  San  Francisco,  and  with 
his  pipe  between  his  lips,  sat  down  in  the  chair 
to  which  he  was  always  welcome.  In  truth, 
the  chair  was  considered  his,  and  no  one  would 
have  thought  of  occupying  it  when  he  was  pres- 


KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 


ent.  As  he  slowly  puffed  his  pipe  he  swayed 
gently  backward  and  forward,  his  slouch  hat 
on  the  floor  beside  him,  and  his  long,  straggling 
hair  dangling  about  his  shoulders,  while  his 
heavy  beard  came  almost  to  his  eyes. 

It  was  so  late  that  the  wife  had  long  since 
cleared  away  the  dishes  from  the  table,  and  sat 
at  one  side  of  the  room  sewing  by  the  lamp. 
The  husband  was  reading  a  paper,  but  laid  it 
aside  when  Jeff  entered,  always  glad  to  talk 
with  their  quaint  visitor,  to  whom  he  and  his 
family  were  bound  by  warm  ties  of  gratitude. 

Jeff  smoked  a  minute  or  two  in  silence,  after 
greeting  his  friends,  and  the  humping  of  his 
massive  shoulders  showed  that  he  was  laughing, 
though  he  gave  forth  no  sound. 

"  What  pleases  you,  Jeff  ?"  asked  Mr.  Palm 
er,  smiling  in  sympathy,  while  the  wife  looked 
at  their  caller  in  mild  surprise. 

"  I've  heerd  it  said  that  a  burned  child  dreads 
the  fire,  but  I  don1 1  b'lieve  it.  After  he's  burnt 
he  goes  back  agin  and  gits  burnt  over.  Why 
is  it,  after  them  explorers  that  are  trying  to 
find  the  Xorth  Pole  no  sooner  git  home  and 
thawed  out  than  they're  crazy  to  go  back  agin  1 
Look  at  Peary.  You'd  think  he  had  enough, 


THE  GOLD-HUNTERS.  1 

but  he's  at  it  once  more,  and  will  keep  at  it 
after  he  finds  the  pole— that  is,  if  he  ever  does 
find  it.  2s"ansen,  too,  he'll  be  like  a  fish  out  of 
water  till  he's  climbing  the  icebergs  agin." 

And  once  more  the  huge  shoulders  bobbed 
up  and  down.  His  friends  knew  this  was 
meant  to  serve  as  an  introduction  to  something 
else  that  was  on  Jeff's  mind,  and  they  smil 
ingly  waited  for  it  to  come. 

"  It's  over  forty  years  since  I  roughed  it  in 
the  diggings,  starving,  fighting  Injins,  and  get 
ting  tough, ' '  continued  the  old  miner  musingly. 
"  After  I  struck  it  purty  fair  I  quit ;  but  I  never 
told  you  IIOAV  many  times  the  longing  has  come 
over  me  so  strong  that  it  was  all  I  could  do  to 
stick  at  home  and  not  make  a  fool  of  my 
self." 

"  But  that  was  in  your  younger  days,"  re 
plied  his  friend  ;  u  you  have  had  nothing  of  the 
kind  for  a  good  while." 

Jeff  took  his  pipe  from  the  network  of  beard 
that  enclosed  his  lips,  and  turned  his  bright, 
gray  eyes  upon  the  husband  and  wife  who  were 
looking  curiously  at  him.  They  knew  by  the 
movement  of  the  beard  at  the  corners  of  the 
invisible  mouth  that  he  was  smiling. 


8  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  There's  the  joke.  It's  come  over  me  so 
strong  inside  the  last  week,  that  I've  made  up 
my  mind  to  start  out  on  a  hunt  for  gold.  What 
do  you  think  of  that,  eh  ?" 

And  restoring  his  pipe  to  his  lips,  he  leaned 
back  and  rocked  his  chair  with  more  vigor  than 
before,  while  he  looked  fixedly  into  the  faces  of 
his  friends. 

"  Jeff,  you  can't  be  in  earnest;  you  are  past 
threescore — " 

"Sixty-four  last  month,"  he  interrupted; 
"  let's  git  it  right." 

'  *  And  you  are  in  no  need  of  money ;  besides 
it  is  a  hard  matter  to  find  any  place  in  Cali 
fornia  where  it  is  worth  your  while — 

"  But  it  ain't  Californy,"  he  broke  in  again  ; 
"  it's  the  Klondike  country.  No  use  of  talk 
ing,"  he  added  with  warmth,  "there's  richer 
deposits  in  Alaska  and  that  part  of  the  world 
than  was  ever  found  hereabouts.  I've  got  a 
friend,  Tim  McCabe,  at  Juneau;  he's  been 
through  the  Klondike  country,  and  writes  me 
there's  no  mistake  about  it;  he  wants  me  to 
join  him.  I'm  going  to  do  it,  and  your  boy 
Eos  well  and  his  cousin  Frank  are  to  go  with 
me.  Oh,  it's  all  settled,"  said  Jeff  airily; 


JEFF, 


THE  GOLD-HUNTERS.  11 

"  the  only  question  is  how  soon  you  can  git 
him  ready.     A  day  oughter  be  enough." 

The  husband  and  wife  looked  at  each  other 
in  astonishment.  They  had  not  dreamed  of 
anything  like  this;  but  if  the  truth  were  told, 
Mr.  Palmer  had  been  so  wrought  up  by  the 
wonderful  stories  that  were  continually  coming 
from  Alaska  and  British  Columbia,  that  he  was 
seriously  thinking  of  joining  the  northward- 
bound  procession. 

Startling  as  was  the  announcement  of  Jeff 
Graham,  a  discussion  of  the  scheme  brought 
out  more  than  one  fact  to  recommend  it.  The 
youths  were  in  perfect  health,  strong  and  ath 
letic.  Jeff  volunteered  to  provide  all  the  funds 
needed,  and  his  early  experience  in  mining  and 
his  love  for  the  boys  made  him  an  invaluable 
guide  and.  companion  despite  his  years.  He 
had  turned  over  in  his  mind  every  phase  of  the 
question,  and  met  each  objection  the  affection 
ate  mother  brought  forward,  alarmed  as  she 
was  at  the  thought  of  having  her  boy  go  so 
many  miles  from  under  her  care. 

"  It  will  be  necessary  to  talk  with  Koswell 
about  it,"  said  the  father,  after  the  conversa 
tion  had  lasted  a  considerable  while. 


12  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  No,  it  won't ;  I've  talked  with  him,  and 
he's  as  crazy  as  me  to  go." 

"  But  what  will  Frank's  mother  say  ?" 

"  She's  said  what  she's  got  to  say;  had  a 
talk  with  her  last  night,  and  it's  all  fixed.  I've 
sent  word  to  Tim  that  I'll  be  at  Juneau  by  next 
steamer,  and  have  two  of  the  likeliest  younkers 
with  me  on  the  coast ;  then  we'll  head  for  the 
Upper  Yukon,  and  bime-by  hire  a  ship  to  bring 
back  all  the  gold  we'll  scoop  in. " 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  we  have  nothing  to  do 
in  the  premises,  Jeff. ' ' 

"  Nothing  'cept  to  git  the  youngster  ready." 


CHAPTER  II. 

AT   JUNEAU. 

Now  it  is  a  serious  undertaking  for  any  one 
to  make  a  journey  to  the  gold  regions  at  the 
headwaters  of  the  Yukon,  as  every  one  will 
admit  who  has  been  there.  All  know  of  the 
starvation  which  threatened  the  people  of  Daw- 
son  City  during  the  winter  of  1897-98,  when 
the  whole  country  was  stirred  with  sympathy, 
and  our  Government  made  use  of  reindeer  to 
take  food  to  the  suffering  miners. 

No  dangers  of  that  kind  confronted  Roswell 
Palmer  and  Frank  Mansley,  but  their  parents 
could  not  contemplate  the  undertaking  without 
anxiety.  The  mothers  held  more  than  one  con 
sultation,  and  there  was  a  time  when  both  were 
inclined  to  object  to  the  boys  going  at  all. 
The  dread  of  that  desolate,  icy  region  in  the 
far  Northwest  grew  upon  them,  until  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  if  the  departure  had  been  postponed  for 


14  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

only  a  few  days  Mrs.  Mansley  and  Mrs.  Palmer 
would  never  have  given  their  consent.  But 
Mr.  Palmer  laughed  at  their  fears,  and  assured 
them  there  was  no  cause  for  alarm.  lie  spoke 
so  cheeringly  that  they  caught  his  hopefulness, 
but  neither  noticed  the  lump  he  swallowed,  nor 
with  what  difficulty  he  kept  back  the  tears 
when  the  hour  for  parting  came.  He  was  fully 
as  anxious  as  they,  but  he  knew  how  to  dissem 
ble,  and  would  not  have  confessed  his  real  emo 
tions  for  the  world. 

After  all,  it  was  Jeff  Graham  who  deserved 
the  credit  for  the  willingness  of  the  parents  to 
see  their  sons  venture  upon  the  long  and  dan 
gerous  journey.  To  him  the  trip  was  much  the 
same  as  a  visit  to  Los  Angeles  or  the  Yosemite 
Valley.  His  self-confidence  never  faltered. 
He  was  sure  it  would  be  only  a  pleasant  outing, 
with  the  certainty  of  a  big  reward  at  the  end 
of  it.  The  sly  fellow  dwelt  on  the  pale  com 
plexion  and  debilitated  appearance  of  the  lads. 
He  even  said  that  a  cough  which  he  heard 
Frank  try  to  suppress  (in  swallowing  some  fruit, 
a  bit  of  it  went  the  "  wrong  way' ' — it  was  noth 
ing  more)  indicated  the  insidious  approach  of 
consumption.  Jeff  was  the  only  one  who  was 


AT  JUNE AU.  15 

able  to  see  any  paleness  in  the  countenance  of 
the  young  athletes,  or  suspect  them  of  being 
otherwise  than  fine  specimens  of  youthful  health 
and  vigor;  but  since  he  was  as  solemn  as  a 
judge  when  making  his  declaration,  the  father 
and  mother  of  the  one  and  the  mother  of  the 
other  could  not  feel  quite  certain  there  were 
not  grounds  for  his  fears. 

And  so  it  being  settled  that  the  boys  were  to 
go  to  the  Klondike  gold  fields  under  the  care 
of  the  grim  old  Argonaut,  it  only  remained  to 
complete  the  preparations  in  the  short  time  at 
their  disposal. 

Had  the  mothers  been  free  to  carry  out  their 
wishes,  their  sons  would  have  been  loaded  down 
with  baggage  upon  leaving  San  Francisco. 
There  are  so  many  things  which  seem  indis 
pensable,  when  an  affectionate  mother  is  consid 
ering  the  comfort  of  her  only  son,  that  she  is 
sure  to  overwhelm  him.  At  first  the  mothers 
insisted  upon  each  being  furnished  with  a  large 
trunk,  which  would  have  to  be  crowded  to 
bursting  to  contain  what  was  needed,  but  Jeff 
put  his  foot  down. 

"Nothin'  of  the  kind.  Didn't  I  tell  you 
that  we'll  git  all  that's  needed  at  Juneau  or 


16  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

Dyea  or  some  point  on  the  road  ?  You've  for 
got  that." 

"  But,  Jeff,  there  are  some  articles  which 
they  must  take  with  them." 

The  old  miner  lit  his  pipe,  sat  down  in  the 
rocking-chair  at  the  Palmer  home,  where  the 
mothers  had  met  while  the  boys  and  Mr.  Palm 
er  were  down -town  making  a  few  forgotten 
purchases.  The  old  fellow  chuckled  a  little  and 
then  became  serious. 

"  In  the  fust  place,  not  a  trunk  !"  and  he 
shook  his  head  decisively. 

"  Do  you  expect  them  to  take  what  they 
want  in  their  pockets  ?' ' 

"  Umph  !  it  would  be  the  sensiblest  thing 
they  could  do,  but  we  can't  be  bothered  with 
any  trunks,  that  would  be  sure  to  be  lost  in  the 
first  shuffle.  Each  of  us  will  have  a  good,  big, 
strong  carpet-bag,  and  nothing  more.  You  can 
cram  them  as  full  as  you  choose,  but  what  you 
can't  git  in  has  got  to  be  left  at  home. " 

There  could  be  no  mistake  as  to  Jeff's  earnest 
ness,  and  neither  mother  attempted  to  gainsay 
his  words. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  "  jest  lay  out  on  the  floor 
what  you  have  in  your  mind  that  the  young- 


AT  JUNE AU.  17 

sters  need,  and  I'll  tell  you  what  they  do 
need.' ' 

"  You  mustn't  forget,"  observed  Mrs.  Palm 
er,  as  she  started  to  comply,  ' '  that  the  boys 
are  now  down-town  buying  some  things  which 
they  positively  cannot  get  along  without." 

"  As,  for  instance,  what  ?" 

"  Well,  tooth-brushes,  soap,  combs,  court- 
plaster,  handkerchiefs,  buttons,  thread,  quinine, 
and  pain-killer." 

* i  Is  that  all  ?' '  asked  Jeif  so  quizzically  that 
both  ladies  laughed. 

"  You  have  forgotten,"  added  Mrs.  Mansley, 
"the  shirts,  underclothing,  socks,  and  shoes." 

"  They  are  here,"  replied  Mrs.  Palmer,  step 
ping  briskly  into  the  next  room  and  returning 
wiih  her  arms  full. 

"I've  got  to  lay  down  the  law,"  observed 
Jeff,  just  as  Mr.  Palmer  and  the  two  boys  came 
in,  glowing  with  excitement.  "  Here  are  the 
young  men,  and  they  look  as  if  they  had  bought 
out  half  the  town.  Dump  everything  on  the 
floor,  and  let's  sort  'em  out." 

When  the  pile  was  complete  the  miner  gravely 
remarked : 

"  Nothing  less  than  a  freight-car  will  answer 


18  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

for  all  that  stuff,  and  I  don't  b'lieve  we  can 
charter  one  through  to  Dawson.  In  the  first 
place,  I  s'pose  the  tooth-brushes  will  have  to  go, 
though  I  never  found  any  use  for  such  things, 
and  I  can  crack  a  bull  hickory -nut  with  my 
teeth.  The  same  may  be  obsarved  of  the  soap 
and  combs,  while  a  roll  of  court  plaster  don't 
take  up  much  room.  We'll  be  likely  to  need 
thread,  buttons,  and  some  patches  for  our 
clothes,  though  I've  got  a  supply  in  my  carpet 
bag.  The  quinine  and  pain-killer  they  may 
take  if  you  can  find  a  corner  to  squeeze  'em 
in.  As  to  the  underclothing,  extra  shirts,  it 
depends  whether  there  is  room  for  'em;  but  the 
boys  mustn't  think  of  taking  their  dress  suits 
along,  'cause  Pm  not  going  to.  There  ain't 
any  room  for  violins,  pianos,  or  music-boxes, 
and  the  only  clothing  and  shoes  that  can  go 
with  this  party  is  what  we  wear  on  our  bodies 
and  feet." 

"  Suppose  the  shoes  wear  out  ?"  asked  Mrs. 
Mansley  in  dismay. 

"  Then  we'll  go  barefoot.  Now,  see  here, 
we  shan't  be  away  more  than  three  months. 
A  pair  of  well-made  shoes  will  last  longer  than 
that,  and  the  same  is  true  about  our  clothes, 


AT  JUNE AU.  19 

though  we  have  the  means  of  mending  them,  if 
modesty  calls  for  it,  which  ain't  likely  to  be 
the  case  in  the  diggings.  Caps,  coats,  vests, 
trousers,  and  shoes  are  to  sarve  from  the  day 
we  start  till  we  come  back.  If  one  of  the  boys 
casts  a  shoe  and  loses  it,  we'll  find  some  way 
of  getting  him  another.  AVhat's  this?"  sud 
denly  asked  Jeff,  picking  up  a  small  volume 
from  the  floor  and  opening  it. 

He  looked  at  the  fly-leaf,  on  which  was 
written  :  "To  my  dear  boy  Roswell,  from 
his  affectionate  mother.  Read  a  portion  every 
day,  and  be  guided  in  your  thoughts,  words, 
and  deeds  by  its  blessed  precepts.  Then  it 
shall  always  be  well  with  thee. " 

There  were  two  of  the  small  Bibles,  the  other 
being  similarly  inscribed  with  the  name  of 
Frank  Mansley.  The  boys  and  their  parents 
were  standing  around  the  seated  miner,  and  no 
one  spoke.  He  looked  at  each  precious  volume 
in  turn,  and  then  reverently  laid  them  among 
the  pile  of  indispensables. 

"That's  the  mother  of  it,"  he  said,  as  if 
speaking  with  himself  ;  "  it's  a  good  many 
years  since  my  poor  old  mother  done  the  same 
thing  for  me  when  I  started  for  Californy,  and 


20  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

I've  got  the  book  among  my  things  yet, 
though  I  don't  read  it  as  often  as  I  should. 
Them  go  if  we  have  to  leave  everything  else 
behind." 

When  the  task  was  completed,  every  one 
acknowledged  the  excellent  judgment  displayed 
by  Jeff  Graham.  The  three  were  arrayed  in 
strong,  thick,  warm  clothing,  and,  in  addition, 
each  carried  a  heavy  overcoat  on  his  arm.  In 
the  valises  were  crowded  underclothing,  shirts, 
handkerchiefs,  and  the  articles  that  have  been 
already  specified.  It  was  wonderful  how  skil 
fully  the  mothers  did  the  packing.  When  it 
looked  as  if  every  inch  of  space  was  filled,  they 
found  a  crevice  into  which  another  bottle  of 
standard  medicine,  an  extra  bit  of  soap,  more 
thread  and  needles  and  conveniences  of  which 
no  other  person  would  think  were  forced 
without  adding  to  the  difficulty  of  locking  the 
valises. 

Nothing  remaining  to  be  done,  on  the  follow 
ing  day  the  boys  kissed  their  tearful  mothers 
good-by,  and  warmly  shook  hands  with  Mr. 
Palmer,  who  brokenly  murmured,  "  God  bless 
you  !  be  good  boys  !"  as  he  saw  them  off  on  the 
steamer  bound  for  Seattle,  and  thence  to  Juneau, 


AT  JUNE AU.  21 

where  they  safely  arrived  one  day  early  in 
April,  1897. 

In  making  such  a  voyage,  many  people  are 
necessarily  thrown  together  in  more  or  less 
close  companionship,  with  the  result  of  forming 
numerous  acquaintances  and  sometimes  lasting 
friendships.  Following  the  advice  of  Jeff,  the 
cousins  had  little  to  say  about  their  plans, 
though  they  became  interested  in  more  than 
one  passenger,  and  often  speculated  between 
themselves  as  to  the  likelihood  of  certain  ones 
meeting  success  or  failure  in  the  gold  regions. 

There  were  three  sturdy  lumbermen  all  the 
way  from  Maine.  A  curious  fact  about  them 
was  that,  although  they  were  not  related  at  all, 
the  name  of  each  was  Brown.  They  were 
light-hearted  and  the  life  of  the  large  party. 
One  Brown  had  a  good  tenor  voice,  and  often 
sang  popular  ballads  with  taste  and  great  ac 
ceptability.  Another  played  the  violin  with 
considerable  skill,  and  sometimes  indulged  in 
jig  tunes,  to  whicli  his  friends,  and  occasionally 
others,  danced  an  accompaniment. 

"  They'll  succeed,"  was  the  verdict  of  Ros- 
well,  "  for  they  are  strong,  healthy,  and  will 
toil  like  beavers. ' ' 


22  KLONDIKE  NUQQETS. 

' '  And  what  of  the  two  men  smoking  their 
pipes  just  beyond  the  fiddler  ?"  asked  Frank. 

* '  I  had  a  talk  with  them  the  other  day  ;  one 
has  been  a  miner  in  Australia,  and  the  other 
spent  two  years  in  the  diamond  mines  of  Kim- 
berley,  South  Africa.  Meeting  for  the  first 
time  in  San  Francisco,  they  formed  a  partner 
ship  ;  they,  too,  are  rugged  and  must  under 
stand  their  business." 

u  No  doubt  of  it.  Do  you  remember  that 
stoop-shouldered  old  man  whose  room  is  next 
to  ours?" 

' '  The  one  who  has  such  dreadful  coughing 
spells  in  the  night  ?" 

"  Yes  ;  he  is  far  gone  with  consumption,  and 
yet  he  won't  believe  there's  anything  the  mat 
ter  with  him.  lie  is  worse  than  when  he  came 
on  board ;  but  he  says  it  is  only  a  slight  cold 
Avhich  will  soon  pass  off,  and  he  is  just  as  hope 
ful  as  you  or  I  of  taking  a  lot  of  nuggets  home 
with  him. ' ' 

"  He  never  will  see  the  other  side  of  Chilkoot 
Pass." 

"  I  doubt  whether  he  will  ever  see  this  side." 

Thus  the  boys  speculated,  sometimes  amused 
and  sometimes  saddened  by  what  they  saw. 


AT  JUNE AU.  23 

There  was  a  big  San  Francisco  policeman,  who 
said  he  had  cracked  heads  so  long  that  he 
thought  he  knew  how  to  crack  some  golden 
nuggets  ;  a  correspondent  of  a  prominent  New 
York  newspaper,  whose  situation  was  enviable, 
since  his  salary  and  expenses  were  guaranteed, 
and  he  was  free  to  gather  gold  when  the  oppor 
tunity  offered  ;  a  voluble  insurance  agent,  who 
made  a  nuisance  of  himself  by  his  solicitations, 
in  season  and  out  ;  a  massive  football-player, 
who  had  no  companion,  and  did  not  wish  any, 
since  he  was  sure  he  could  buck  the  line,  make 
a  touchdown,  and  kick  a  goal ;  a  gray-haired 
head  of  a  family,  who,  having  lost  his  all,  had 
set  out  to  gather  another  fortune  along  the 
Klondike.  He  walked  briskly,  threw  back  his 
shoulders,  and  tried  hard  to  appear  young  and 
vigorous,  but  the  chances  were  strongly  against 
him.  There  were  a  number  of  bright  clerks ;  a 
clergyman,  pleasant  and  genial  with  all  ;  gam 
blers,  with  pallid  faces  and  hair  and  mustaches 
dyed  an  intense  black,  who  expected  to  win  the 
gold  for  which  others  dug  ;  young  and  middle- 
aged  men,  some  with  their  brave  wives,  serene 
and  calmly  prepared  to  bear  their  full  share  of 
privation  and  toil  ;  and  adventurers,  ready  to 


24  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

go  anywhere  for  the  sake  of  adventure  itself. 
In  truth,  it  was  a  motley  assemblage,  which  to 
the  boys  was  like  a  continually  shifting  pano 
rama  of  hope,  ambition,  honesty,  dishonor, 
pluck,  and  human  enterprise  and  daring,  that 
was  ever  present  throughout  the  thousand  miles 
of  salt  water  that  stretches  from  Seattle  to 
Juneau. 

Juneau,  the  metropolis  of  Alaska,  was 
founded  in  1880,  and  named  in  honor  of  Joseph 
Juneau,  the  discoverer  of  gold  on  Douglas 
Island,  two  miles  distant.  There  is  located  the 
Treadwell  quartz-mill,  the  largest  in  the  world. 
The  city  nestles  at  the  base  of  a  precipitous 
mountain,  thirty-three  hundred  feet  high,  has 
several  thousand  inhabitants,  with  its  wooden 
houses  regularly  laid  out,  good  wharves,  water 
works,  electric  lights,  banks,  hotels,  news 
papers,  schools,  and  churches. 

"  Here's  where  we  get  our  outfit,"  said  Jeff, 
as  they  hurried  over  the  plank  to  the  landing. 
"  But  where  can  Tim  be  ?" 

He  paused  abruptly  as  soon  as  he  was  clear 
of  the  crowd,  and  looked  around  for  the  one 
who  was  the  cause  of  his  coming  to  this  out-of- 
the-way  corner  of  the  world.  He  was  still 


AT  JUNEAU.  25 

gazing  when  a  man,  dressed  much  the  same  as 
himself,  but  short,  stockily  built,  and  with  the 
reddest  hair  and  whiskers  the  boys  had  ever 
seen,  his  round  face  aglow  with  pleasure 
stepped  hastily  forward  from  the  group  of  spec 
tators  and  extended  his  hand. 

"  Ah,  Jiff,  it  does  me  good  to  see  your  hand 
some  silf  ;  and  how  have  ye  been,  and  how  do 
ye  expect  to  continue  to  be  ?" 

Tim  McCabe  was  an  Irishman  who,  when 
overtaken  by  misfortune  in  San  Francisco, 
found  Jeff  Graham  the  good  Samaritan,  and  he 
could  never  show  sufficient  gratitude  therefor. 
It  was  only  one  of  the  many  kindly  deeds  the 
old  miner  was  always  performing,  but  he  did 
not  meet  in  every  case  with  such  honest  thank 
fulness. 

Jeff  clasped  his  hand  warmly,  and  then 
looked  at  the  smiling  boys,  to  whom  he  intro 
duced  his  friend,  and  who  shook  their  hands. 
He  eyed  them  closely,  and,  with  the  quizzical 
expression  natural  to  many  of  his  people,  said  : 

"  And  these  are  the  laddies  ye  wrote  me 
about  ?  Ye  said  they  were  likely  broths  of 
boys;  but,  Jiff,  ye  didn't  do  them  justice— they 
desarved  more. ' ' 


26  KLONDIKE  NUOQET8. 

"  Tim  is  always  full  of  blarney,"  explained 
Jeff,  who,  it  was  evident,  was  fond  of  the  merry 
Irishman  ;  "so  you  mustn't  mind  him  and  his 
ways." 

Uoswell  and  Frank  were  attracted  by  Jeff's 
friend,  lie  was  one  of  those  persons  who,  de 
spite  their  homeliness  of  face  and  feature,  win 
us  by  their  genial  nature  and  honest,  outspoken 
ways.  No  one  ever  saw  a  liner  set  of  big, 
white  teeth,  nor  a  broader  smile,  which  scarcely 
ever  was  absent  from  the  Irishman's  counte 
nance,  lie  shook  hands  with  each  lad  in  turn, 
giving  a  warm  pressure  and  expressing  his 
pleasure  at  meeting  them.  "  I'm  glad  to  greet 
ye,  me  friends,"  he  said,  as  the  whole  party 
moved  out  of  the  way  of  the  hurrying,  bustling 
swarm  who  were  rushing  back  and  forth,  each 
intent  on  his  own  business  ;  "  not  only  on 
your  own  account,  but  on  account  of  me  friend 
Jiff." 

41  I  do  not  quite  understand  you,"  said  Kos- 
well  with  a  smile. 

"  Well,  you  see,  I've  met  Jiff  before,  and 
formed  a  rather  fair  opinion  of  him  ;  but  whin 
a  gintleman  like  mesilf  is  engaged  on  some  im 
portant  business,  them  as  are  to  be  favored 


AT  JUNE  A  U.  27 

with  me  confidence  must  have  their  creden 
tials." 

"  And  you  accept  our  presence  with  him  as 
proof  that  he  is  what  he  should  be  ?" 

Tim  gravely  inclined  his  head. 

"  Do  ye  think  I  would  admit  Jiff  as  a  part 
ner  if  it  was  otherwise  ?  Not  I. " 

"But,"  interposed  Frank,  "how  is  it  with 
us  f  You  never  saw  us  before. ' ' 

"  One  look  at  them  faces  is  enough,"  was 
the  prompt  reply  ;  "  ye  carry  a  certificate  wid 
ye  that  no  one  can  dispoot. ' ' 

"And  I  should  like  to  know,"  said  Jeff, 
with  assumed  indignation,  "  what  credential 
you  have  to  present  to  us,  young  man." 

"  Mine  is  the  same  as  the  young  gintlemen," 
answered  Tim,  removing  his  thick  fur  cap  and 
displaying  his  whole  wealth  of  fiery  red  hair  ; 
"  obsarve  me  countenance." 

His  face  became  grave  for  the  first  time, 
while  all  the  rest  laughed. 

"  Pin  satisfied  and  hungry,"  said  Jeff  ; 
"  take  us  where  we  can  get  something  to  eat." 

"  I  knew  by  that  token  that  I  had  forgot 
something,  and  it's  me  breakfast  and  dinner. 
In  honor  of  yer  coming,  I've  engaged  the 


28  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

best  quarters  at  the  leading  hotel.  Come  wid 
me." 

It  was  but  a  short  distance  up  the  street  to  a 
frame  hotel,  which  was  kept  by  a  corpulent 
German  Avho  had  been  in  the  country  for  a 
couple  of  years.  The  men  registered,  during 
which  Tim  remarked  to  the  landlord,  who 
seemed  never  to  be  without  his  long-stemmed 
meerschaum  pipe  between  his  lips  : 

"  This  gintleman  isn't  the  burglar  that  ye 
would  think  from  his  looks.  He  belongs  to  a 
good  family,  or  ye  wouldn't  obsarve  him  in  my 
company.  The  young  gintlemen  are  two 
princes  that  are  travelling  in  cog.  In  consider 
ation  of  all  of  them  having  delicate  appetites 
like  mesilf,  not  forgetting  the  honor  of  their 
company,  ye  will  be  glad  to  make  a  reduction 
in  your  exorbitant  rates,  Baron  Fritz,  I  am 
sure." 

The  phlegmatic  German  smiled,  and  in  a 
guttural  voice  announced  that  his  terms  were 
three  dollars  a  day,  including  rooms  and  meals, 
which,  when  all  the  circumstances  are  consid 
ered,  was  not  extravagant.  The  party  carried 
their  luggage  to  their  rooms,  where  they  pre 
pared  themselves  for  the  meal,  which  was  satis- 


AT  JUNE A  U.  29 

factory  in  every  respect  and  better  than  they 
expected. 

It  came  out  during  the  conversation  that 
Tim  McCabe  had  not  a  dollar  to  his  name,  and 
he  spoke  the  truth  when  he  said  that  he  had 
not  eaten  a  mouthful  that  day.  It  would  have 
gone  hard  for  him  but  for  the  arrival  of  Jeff 
Graham,  though  there  is  such  a  lively  demand 
for  labor  in  Juneau  that  he  must  have  soon 
found  means  to  provide  himself  with  food. 

As  for  Jeff,  he  was  glad  in  his  heart  that  his 
old  friend  was  in  such  sore  straits,  inasmuch  as 
it  gave  him  the  pleasure  of  providing  for  him. 
Tim  had  taken  out  some  five  hundred  dollars, 
but  a  companion  whom  he  fully  trusted  robbed 
him  of  it,  and  the  small  amount  left  barely  kept 
the  Irishman  afloat  until  the  arrival  of  the  old 
miner. 

Jeff  Graham  showed  prudence  in  bringing  a 
plentiful  supply  of  funds  with  him,  and  since 
he  expected  to  take  back  a  hundredfold  more 
than  he  brought,  he  could  well  afford  to  do  so. 
Stowed  away  in  his  safe  inside  pocket  was  fully 
two  thousand  dollars,  and  inasmuch  as  gold  is 
the  "  coin  of  the  realm"  in  California,  as  well 
as  in  Alaska,  the  funds  were  in  shining  eagles 


30  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

and  half  eagles — rather  bulky  of  themselves, 
but  not  uncomfortably  so. 

The  experience  of  McCabe  and  Jeff  prevented 
any  mistake  in  providing  their  outfit.  They 
had  good,  warm  flannels,  thick  woollen  gar 
ments,  strong  shoes,  and  rubber  boots.  Those 
who  press  their  mining  operations  during  the 
long  and  severe  winter  generally  use  the  water 
boot  of  seal  and  walrus,  which  costs  from  two 
dollars  to  five  dollars  a  pair,  with  trousers 
made  from  Siberian  fawn-skins  and  the  skin  of 
the  marmot  and  ground  squirrel,  with  the  outer 
garment  of  marmot- skin.  Blankets  and  robes, 
of  course,  are  indispensable.  The  best  are  of 
wolf -skin,  and  Jeff  paid  one  hundred  dollars 
apiece  for  those  furnished  to  himself  and  each 
of  his  companions. 

The  matter  of  provisions  was  of  the  first  im 
portance.  A  man  needs  a  goodly  supply  of 
nourishing  food  to  sustain  him  through  the  try 
ing  journey  from  Juneau  to  Dawson  City,  the 
following  being  considered  necessary  for  an 
able-bodied  person  :  Twenty  pounds  of  flour, 
twelve  of  bacon,  twelve  of  beans,  four  of  butter, 
five  of  vegetables,  five  of  sugar,  three  of  coffee, 
five  of  corn-meal,  one  pound  of  tea,  four  cans 


AT  JUNE AU.  31 

of  condensed  milk,  one  and  one  half  pounds  of 
salt,  with  a  little  pepper  and  mustard. 

Because  of  the  weight  and  bulk,  Jeff  omitted 
from  this  list  the  tea,  the  condensed  milk  and 
butter,  and  while  the  supply  in  other  respects 
was  the  same,  respectively,  for  himself  and 
McCabe,  that  of  the  boys  was  cut  down  about 
one  third;  for  besides  the  food,  the  party  were 
compelled  to  take  with  them  a  frying-pan,  a 
water-kettle,  a  Yukon  stove,  a  bean-pot,  a 
drinking- cup,  knives  and  forks,  and  a  large  and 
small  frying-pan. 

Since  they  would  find  a  good  raft  necessary, 
axes,  hatchets,  hunting-knives,  nails,  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  feet  of  rope,  and  two  Juneau 
sleds  were  purchased.  To  these  were  added 
snow-shoes,  a  strong  duck-tent,  fishing-tackle, 
snow-glasses  to  protect  themselves  against  snow- 
blindness,  rubber  blankets,  mosquito-netting, 
tobacco,  and  a  few  minor  articles. 

The  start  from  Juneau  to  the  gold  fields  should 
not  be  made  before  the  beginning  of  April. 
Our  friends  had  struck  that  date,  but  the  head 
long  rush  did  not  begin  until  some  time  later. 
One  of  the  principal  routes  is  from  Seattle  to 
St.  Michael,  on  the  western  coast  of  Alaska, 


32  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

and  then  up  that  mighty  river  whose  mouth 
is  near,  for  nearly  two  thousand  more  miles  to 
Dawson  City.  The  river  is  open  during  the 
summer — sometimes  barely  four  months — and 
our  friends  took  the  shorter  route  to  Juneau  on 
the  southern  coast,  from  which  it  is  about  a 
thousand  miles  to  Dawson.  While  this  route  is 
much  shorter,  it  is  a  hundred  times  more  diffi 
cult  and  dangerous  than  by  the  Yukon. 

From  Juneau  there  are  four  different  routes 
to  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon,  all  crossing 
by  separate  paths  the  range  of  mountains  along 
the  coast.  They  are  the  Dyea  or  Chilkoot 
Pass,  the  Chilkat,  Moore's  or  White  Pass,  and 
Takou.  At  this  writing  the  Chilkoot  is  the 
favorite,  because  it  is  better  known  than  the 
others,  but  the  facilities  for  passing  through  this 
entrance  or  doorway  to  the  new  El  Dorado  are 
certain  to  be  greatly  increased  at  an  early  day. 

It  was  learned  on  inquiry  that  another  day 
would  have  to  be  spent  in  the  town  before  the 
little  steamer  would  leave  for  Dyea.  While 
Tim  and  Jeff  stayed  at  the  hotel,  talking  over 
old  times  and  laying  plans  for  the  future,  the 
boys  strolled  through  the  streets,  which  were 
knee-deep  with  mud. 


ROSWELL,    DO    YOU    KNOW    THAT    STRANGE    MAN    HAS   BEEN 
FOLLOWING    US   FOR   THE    PAST    HOUR?" 


AT  JUNE 'AU.  35 

The  curio  shops  on  Front  and  Seward  streets 
were  interesting,  and  from  the  upper  end  of 
the  latter  street  they  saw  a  path  leading  to  the 
Auk  village,  whose  people  claim  to  own  the 
flats  at  the  mouth  of  Gold  Creek.  On  the  high 
ground  across  the  stream  is  a  cemetery  contain 
ing  a  number  of  curious  totemic  carvings,  hung 
with  offerings  to  departed  spirits.  It  would 
cost  a  white  man  his  life  to  disturb  any  of 
them. 

It  was  early  in  the  afternoon  that  the  cousins 
were  strolling  aimlessly  about  and  had  turned 
to  retrace  their  steps  to  the  hotel,  when  Frank 
touched  the  arm  of  his  companion  and  said,  in 
a  low  voice  : 

"  Koswell,  do  you  know  that  a  strange  man 
has  been  following  us  for  the  past  hour  ?" 

"No  ;  where  is  he?" 

"  On  the  other  side  of  the  street  and  a  little 
way  behind  us.  Don't  look  around  just  now. 
I  don't  fancy  his  appearance." 

A  minute  later,  Eos  well  managed  to  gain  a 
good  view. 

"  I  don't  like  his  looks  as  well  as  he  seems  to 
like  ours.  Shall  we  wait  for  him  and  ask  him 
his  business  ?" 


36  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  No  need  of  that,  for  he  is  walking  so  fast, 
he  will  soon  be  up  with  us.  Here  he  comes,  as 
if  in  a  great  hurry." 

A  few  minutes  later  the  boys  were  overtaken 
by  the  suspicious  stranger. 


CHAPTER  III. 

UP    THE    LYNN    CANAL. 

EOSWELL  and  Frank  were  standing  in  front 
of  one  of  the  curio  stores,  studying  the  interest 
ing  exhibits,  among  which  was  a  pan  of  Klon 
dike  gold,  but  they  kept  watch  of  the  stranger, 
who  slouched  up  to  them  and  halted  at  the  side 
of  Frank. 

"  I  say,  pards,"  he  said  in  the  gruff,  wheed 
ling  tones  of  the  professional  tramp,  "  can't 
you  do  something  for  a  chap  that's  down  on 
his  luck?" 

As  the  lads  turned  to  face  him  they  saw  an 
unclean,  tousled  man,  very  tall,  with  stooping 
shoulders,  protruding  black  eyes,  spiky  hair, 
and  a  generally  repellent  appearance. 

"  What's  the  trouble?"  asked  Frank,  look 
ing  into  the  face  that  had  not  been  shaven  for 
several  days. 

"  Had  the  worst  sort  of  luck  ;  got  back  from 
Klondike  two  days  ago  with  thirty  thousand 


38  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

dollars,  and  robbed  of  every  cent.  I'm  dead 
broke." 

"  You  seem  to  have  had  enough  to  buy 
whiskey,"  remarked  Roswell,  who  had  had  a 
whiff  of  his  breath,  and  placed  no  faith  in 
his  story.  The  man  looked  angrily  at  them, 
but  restrained  himself,  in  hopes  of  receiving 
help. 

"  There's  where  you're  mistaken,  my  friends  ; 
I  haven't  had  anything  to  eat  for  two  days, 
and  when  a  stranger  offered  me  a  swallow  of 
whiskey  to  keep  up  my  strength,  I  took  it,  as 
a  medicine.  If  it  hadn't  been  for  that,  I'd 
have  flunked  right  in  the  street— sure  as  you 
live.  What  are  you  doing,  if  I  may  ask,  in 
Juneau  ?" 

"  We  are  listening  to  you  just  now,  but  we 
are  on  our  way  to  the  gold  fields,"  replied 
Roswell. 

"Not  alone?" 

"  We  are  going  with  two  men,  one  of  whom 
has  been  there  before." 

"  That's  more  sensible.  Let  me  give  you  a 
little  advice— 

"  We  really  do  not  feel  the  need  of  it,"  in 
terposed  Roswell,  who  liked  the  man  less  each 


UP  THE  LYNN  CANAL.  39 

minute.  u  You  must  excuse  us,  as  we  wish  to 
join  them  at  the  hotel.  Good-day." 

"  See  here,"  said  the  fellow  angrily,  as  he 
laid  his  hand  on  the  arm  of  Frank  ;  "  ain't 
you  going  to  stake  me  a  bit  ?" 

The  lad  shook  off  his  grasp. 

"  Even  if  we  wished  to  do  so,  we  could  not, 
for  our  friend  at  the  hotel  has  all  the  funds  that 
belong  to  our  party.  Perhaps  if  you  go  there, 
and  he  believes  the  story,  Mr.  Graham  may  do 
something  for  you,  but  Tim  McCabe  has  not 
the  means  with  which  to  help  anybody. ' ' 

At  mention  of  the  Irishman's  name  the  fel 
low  showed  some  agitation.  Then,  seeing  that 
he  was  about  to  lose  the  expected  aid,  he  uttered 
a  savage  expression  and  exclaimed  : 

"  I  don't  believe  a  word  you  say." 

"  It  is  no  concern  of  ours  whether  you  be 
lieve  it  or  not,"  replied  Roswell,  as  he  and 
Frank  started  down  the  street  toward  their 
hotel.  The  fellow  was  amazed  at  the  defiance 
of  the  lads,  and  stood  staring  at  them  and  mut 
tering  angrily  to  himself.  Could  he  have  car 
ried  out  his  promptings,  he  would  have  robbed 
both,  but  was  restrained  by  several  reasons. 

In  the  first  place,  Juneau,  despite  the  influx 


40  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

of  miners,  is  a  law-abiding  city,  and  the  man's 
arrest  and  punishment  would  have  followed 
speedily.  Moreover,  it  would  not  have  been 
an  altogether  "  sure  thing"  for  him  to  attack 
the  youths.  They  were  exceptionally  tall,  ac 
tive  and  strong,  and  would  have  given  him 
trouble  without  appeal  to  the  firearms  which 
they  carried. 

They  looked  round  and  smiled,  but  he  did 
not  follow  them.  When  they  reached  the  hotel 
they  related  the  incident. 

1 '  Would  ye  oblige  me  with  a  description  of 
the  spalpeen  ?"  said  Tim  McCabe,  after  they 
had  finished.  Eoswell  did  as  requested. 

"  Be  the  powers,  it's  him  !"  exclaimed  Tim. 
"  I  'spected  it  when  ye  told  the  yarn  which 
I've  heerd  he  has  been  telling  round  town." 

"  Whom  do  you  mean  ?"  asked  Frank. 

"  Hardman,  Ike  Hardman  himsilf." 

"  Who  is  he?" 

"  Didn't  I  tell  ye  he  was  the  one  that  robbed 
me  of  my  money?  Sure  I  did,  what  is  the 
matter  wid  ye  ?" 

"  You  told  us  about  being  robbed,"  said  Jeff, 
"  but  didn't  mention  the  name  of  the  man  who 
did  it." 


UP  THE  LYNN  CANAL.  41 

"  I  want  to  inthrodooce  mesilf  to  him  !"  ex 
claimed  Tim,  flushed  with  indignation;  u  ax- 
scoose  me  for  a  bit. ' ' 

He  strode  to  the  door  with  the  intention  of 
hunting  up  and  chastising  the  rogue,  but,  with 
his  hand  on  the  knob,  checked  himself.  For  a 
moment  he  debated  with  himself,  and  then,  as 
his  broad  face  lit  up  with  his  natural  good 
humor,  he  came  back  to  his  chair,  paraphras 
ing  Uncle  Toby  : 

"  The  world's  big  enough  for  the  likes  of 
him  and  me,  though  he  does  crowd  a  bit.  Let 
him  git  all  the  good  out  of  the  theft  he  can, 
say  I." 

Dyea  is  at  the  head  of  navigation,  and  is  the 
timber  line,  being  a  hundred  miles  to  the  north 
west  of  Juneau.  It  is  at  the  upper  fork  of 
what  is  termed  Lynn  Canal,  the  most  extensive 
fiord  on  the  coast.  It  is,  in  truth,  a  continua 
tion  of  Chatham  Strait,  the  north  and  south 
passage  being  several  hundred  miles  in  extent, 
the  whole  forming  the  trough  of  a  glacier  which 
disappeared  ages  ago. 

On  the  day  following  the  incident  described 
our  friends  boarded  the  little,  untidy  steam 
launch  bound  for  Dyea.  There  were  fifty  pas- 


42  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

sengers  beside  themselves,  double  the  number 
it  was  intended  to  carry,  the  destination  of  all 
being  the  gold  fields.  The  weather  was  keen 
and  biting,  and  the  accommodations  on  the 
boat  poor.  They  pushed  here  and  there,  sur 
veying  with  natural  interest  the  bleak  scenery 
along  shore,  the  mountains  white  with  snow, 
and  foretelling  the  more  terrible  regions  that 
lay  beyond.  Hundreds  of  miles  remained  to 
be  traversed  before  they  could  expect  to  gather 
the  yellow  particles,  but  neither  of  the  sturdy 
lads  felt  any  abatement  of  courage. 

"  Well,  look  at  that  !"  suddenly  exclaimed 
Roswell,  catching  the  arm  of  his  companion 
as  they  were  making  their  way  toward  the 
front  of  the  boat. 

Frank  turned  in  the  direction  indicated,  and 
his  astonishment  was  as  great  as  his  compan 
ion's.  Tim  McCabe  and  the  shabby  scamp, 
Ike  Hardman,  were  sitting  near  each  other  on 
a  bench,  and  smoking  their  pipes  like  two  affec 
tionate  brothers.  No  one  would  have  suspected 
there  had  ever  been  a  ripple  between  them. 

Catching  the  eye  of  the  amazed  boys,  Tim 
winked  and  threw  up  his  chin  as  an  invitation 
for  them  to  approach.  Frank  shook  his  head, 


CATCHING  THE  EYE   OF   THE    AMAZED    BOYS,  TIM    WIN7KED. 


UP  THE  LYNN  CANAL.  45 

and  he  and  Roswell  went  back  to  where  Jeff 
was  smoking  his  pipe.  They  had  hardly  time 
to  tell  their  story  when  the  Irishman  joined 
them. 

"  I  obsarved  by  the  exprission  on  your  faces 
that  ye  were  a  bit  surprised,"  he  said,  address 
ing  the  youths. 

"  Is  that  fellow  the  Ilardman  you  told  us 
about?"  asked  Roswell. 

k  i  The  same  at  your  sarvice. ' ' 

' '  And  the  man  who  robbed  you  of  your 
money  ?" 

Tim  flung  one  of  his  muscular  legs  over  the 
other,  and  with  a  twinkle  of  the  eyes  said  : 

' '  Ilardman  has  made  it  all  right  ;  the  matter 
is  fixed  atween  oursilves." 

"  Then  he  give  you  back  your  money  ?"  was 
the  inquiring  remark  of  Jeff. 

* l  Not  precisely  that,  though  he  said  he  would 
do  the  same  if  he  only  had  it  with  him,  but  he 
run  up  agin  a  game  at  Juneau  and  was  cleaned 
out.  Whin  he  told  me  that  I  was  a  bit  sorry 
for  him.  lie  further  obsarved  that  it  was  his 
intintion  if  he  won  to  stake  me  agin  and  add 
something  extra  for  interest  on  what  he  bor 
rowed  of  me.  That  spakes  well  for  Hardman, 


46  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

so  we  shook  hands  over  it,"  was  the  hearty 
conclusion  of  Tim. 

The  boys  were  too  astonished  to  speak.  Jeff 
Graham's  shoulders  shook,  and  he  looked  side 
ways  at  his  friend  with  a  quizzical  expression, 
unable  to  do  justice  to  his  feelings.  As  for 
Tim,  his  red  face  was  the  picture  of  bland  in 
nocence,  but  he  was  not  through.  Astounding 
as  were  the  statements  he  had  just  made,  he 
had  a  still  more  astounding  one  to  submit. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE    AVALANCHE. 

IT  was  late  in  the  clay  that  the  little  steamer 
arrived  at  Dyea,  which  was  found  to  be  a  vil 
lage  with  one  log  store,  a  number  of  movable 
tents,  and  Avithout  any  wharf,  the  beach  being 
so  flat  that  at  high  water  the  tide  reaches  a 
half  mile  or  more  inland.  To  guard  against 
losing  any  of  their  supplies,  Tim  McCabe  told 
his  friends  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  unload 
them  themselves. 

"  From  this  p'int,''  said  he,  t4  we  must  hoe 
our  own  row  ;  under  hiven  we  must  depind  on 
oursilves.  Ilardman,  lind  a  hand  there,  and 
step  lively." 

To  the  astonishment  of  the  youths,  the  man 
took  hold  and  wrought  with  right  good  will. 
Jeff  looked  at  Tim  queerly  as  he  pointed  out 
the  different  articles,  he  himself,  as  may  be  said, 
overlooking  the  job;  but  the  conclusion  was 
that  the  Irishman  had  promised  him  a  small 


4-8  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

amount  for  his  help.  When,  however,  the 
task  was  finished  Tim  came  to  the  group,  and 
while  Hardman,  with  shamefaced  expression, 
remained  in  the  background,  he  said  with  that 
simplicity  which  any  one  would  find  hard  to 
resist  : 

"  You  see  poor  Hardman  is  in  bad  luck  ;  he 
hain't  any  outfit,  and  wants  to  go  to  the  gold 
fields,  but  will  have  to  git  some  one  to  stake 
him.  Obsarving  the  same,  I  made  bowld  to 
remark  that  it  would  give  me  frind  Jiff  the 
highest  plisure  to  do  it  for  him,  not  forgetting 
to  obsarve  that  I  knew  his  company  would  be 
agreeable  to  the  byes,  and  he  will  be  of  great 
hilp  to  the  same." 

"Well,  I'm  blessed!"  exclaimed  the  old 
miner,  removing  his  hat  and  mopping  his  fore 
head  with  his  big  red  handkerchief.  Then  he 
turned  half  way  round  and  looked  steadily  at 
the  fellow,  who  was  standing  with  his  head 
down. 

' '  Poor  dog  !  let  him  come  along,  but  if  he 
makes  any  trouble,  I'll  hold  you  responsible, 
Tim." 

"  And  I'll  be  happy  to  take  charge  of  the 
same  'sponsibility,  and  if  he  don't  toe  the  mark, 


THE  AVALANCHE,  49 

it's  mesilf  that  will  make  him.  Do  you  hear 
that,  Ike  ?"  he  roared,  turning  fiercely  toward 
the  fellow,  who  started,  and  meekly  replied  that 
he  heard,  though  it  was  impossible  for  any 
thing  to  reach  him  except  the  last  thunderous 
demand. 

"  It  isn't  for  us  to  say  anything,"  remarked 
Roswell  aside  to  his  chum,  "  but  that  means 
trouble  for  us  all." 

"  It  surely  does  ;  we  must  be  on  our  guard 
against  him. ' ' 

The  outfits  were  piled  on  a  sandspit  about  a 
mile  below  the  trading  posts  of  Ilealy  and 
Wilson.  In  the  foreground  were  the  ranch  and 
store  owned  by  them,  and  beyond  towered  the 
coast  mountains,  their  tops  gleaming  in  the 
sunshine  with  enormous  masses  of  snow,  while 
hundreds  of  miles  still  beyond  stretched  the  im 
mense  Yukon  country,  toward  which  the  eyes 
of  the  civilized  world  are  turned  at  the  present 
time. 

One  of  the  strange  facts  connected  with 
Alaska  and  the  adjoining  region  is  that  in  May 
the  sun  rises  at  3  o'clock  and  sets  at  9,  while  in 
June  it  rises  at  1.30  and  sets  at  10.30.  Thus 
the  summer  day  is  twenty  hours  long,  and  it 


50  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

has  a  diffuse  twilight.  The  change  from  win 
ter  to  summer  is  rapid,  Avinter  setting  in  in  Sep 
tember,  and  in  the  Klondike  region  zero  weather 
lasts  from  November  to  May,  though  at  times 
the  weather  moderates  early  in  March,  but  does 
not  become  settled  until  May.  The  Yukon 
generally  freezes  shut  in  the  latter  part  of  Octo 
ber,  and  breaks  up  about  the  middle  of  May, 
when  the  western  route  to  the  gold  fields  by 
the  river  becomes  practicable. 

The  hour  was  so  late  when  our  friends  had 
finished  carrying  their  outfit  beyond  reach  of 
the  high  tide,  Avhich  rises  twenty  feet  at  Dyea, 
that  they  lodged  and  took  their  meals  at  the 
ranch  trading  post.  By  arrangement,  an  early 
breakfast  was  eaten  the  next  morning,  and  the 
goods  were  loaded  upon  the  two  Yukon  sleds 
with  which  they  were  provided.  These  were 
seven  feet  long,  sixteen  inches  wide,  and  were 
shod  with  steel.  Other  gold-seekers  were  stop 
ping,  like  themselves,  at  the  ranch,  but  they 
lagged  so  much  that  when  the  men  and  boys 
headed  northward  they  were  alone. 

Jeff  Graham  and  Ike  Hardman  passed  the 
rope  attached  to  one  of  the  sleds  over  their 
shoulders,  the  elder  in  advance,  and  led  off. 


THE  AVALANCHE.  51 

Tim  took  the  lead,  with  the  boys  behind  him, 
with  the  second  sled,  following  the  trail  left  by 
their  friends.  The  deep  snow  was  packed  so 
hard  that  no  use  was  made  of  the  snow-shoes 
which  Jeff  had  provided. 

From  Dyea  the  trail  led  for  five  miles  over 
the  ice,  when  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
cafion.  This  is  two  miles  long  with  an  average 
width  of  fifty  feet.  The  sleds  were  dragged 
over  the  strong  ice,  but  later  in  the  season,  when 
it  breaks  up,  travellers  are  obliged  to  follow 
the  trail  to  the  east  of  the  cafion. 

The  party  were  so  unaccustomed  to  this  kind 
of  labor  that  they  found  it  exhausting.  Curi 
ously  enough,  Jeff  bore  the  fatigue  better  than 
any.  His  iron  muscles  were  the  last  to  yield, 
and  he  was  the  first  to  resume  the  journey. 
He  chaffed  the  others,  and  offered  to  let  them 
mount  his  sled  while  he  pulled  them. 

Beyond  the  canon  is  a  strip  of  woods  three 
miles  in  length,  which  bears  the  name  of  Pleas 
ant  Camp,  though  it  has  not  the  first  claim  to 
the  name.  It  does  not  contain  the  ruins  of 
even  a  cabin  or  shanty— nothing,  in  fact,  but 
trees,  through  which  the  wintry  winds  sough 
and  howl  dismally.  There  the  party  halted, 


52  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

ate  lunch,  rested  for  an  hour,  and  then  set  out 
with  the  determination  to  make  the  next  camp 
ing  ground  before  night. 

The  ascent  now  became  gradual,  and  before 
the  day  was  spent  they  arrived  at  Sheep  Camp, 
on  the  edge  of  the  timber.  This  is  the  last  spot 
where  wood  for  fuel  can  be  obtained  until  the 
other  side  of  Chilkoot  Pass  is  reached.  The 
tent  was  pitched  on  top  of  the  snow,  the  poles 
and  pins  being  shoved  down  into  it.  Jeff  took 
it  upon  himself  to  cut  what  fuel  was  needed, 
gathering  at  the  same  time  a  liberal  quantity 
of  hemlock  brush,  upon  which  to  spread  their 
blankets  for  beds. 

Since  it  was  necessary  to  use  the  stove,  and 
it  must  rest  on  the  snow,  a  simple  arrangement 
provided  against  trouble  from  the  melting  of 
the  latter.  Three  poles,  eight  feet  in  length, 
were  laid  parallel  on  the  snow  and  the  stove 
placed  upon  them.  Although  a  hole  was  soon 
dissolved  beneath,  the  length  of  the  supports 
kept  the  stove  upright. 

The  experience  which  Jeff  and  Tim  had  had 
made  them  both  excellent  cooks,  which  was  a 
fortunate  thing  for  the  boys,  since  they  would 
have  made  sorry  work  in  preparing  a  meal ;  but 


THE    TKNT    POLES    WERE    SHOVED    DOWN    INTO    THE   SNOW. 


THE  AVALANCHE.  55 

the  art  of  the  Irishman  deserved  the  many  com 
pliments  it  received.  With  the  aid  of  baking 
powder  he  prepared  a  goodly  number  of  light, 
flaky  biscuit,  and  by  exposing  some  of  the 
butter  to  the  warmth  of  the  stove,  it  was  grad 
ually  changed  from  its  stone-like  hardness  to  a 
consistency  that  permitted  it  to  be  cut  with  a 
knife  and  spread  upon  the  hot  bread.  The 
coffee  was  amber,  clear,  and  fragrant,  and  with 
the  condensed  milk  and  sugar  would  have  re 
flected  credit  upon  the  chef  of  any  establish 
ment.  In  addition,  there  were  fried  bacon  and 
canned  corn. 

Until  this  time  the  boys  had  never  believed 
they  could  eat  bacon,  but  nothing  could  have 
had  a  more  delicious  flavor  to  them.  It  was 
not  alone  because  of  their  vigorous  appetites, 
but  partly  on  account  of  the  bitterly  cold 
weather.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  animal  heat 
evolved  in  the  digestion  of  fat  bacon,  and  it  is 
therefore  among  the  favorite  articles  of  food  in 
the  Arctic  regions. 

Probably  there  isn't  a  boy  in  the  country 
who  would  not  revolt  at  the  thought  of  eating 
a  tallow  candle,  and  yet  if  he  was  exposed  to 
the  rigors  of  Greenland  and  the  far  north,  he 


50  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

would  soon  look  upon  it  as  one  of  the  greatest 
delicacies  of  the  table. 

The  hemlock  branches  were  now  spread  on 
top  of  the  snow  at  the  side  of  the  tent,  a 
large  square  of  canvas  Avas  placed  over  them, 
upon  which  the  blankets  and  robes  were 
put,  the  whole  forming  a  springy,  comforta 
ble  bed. 

Roswell  and  Frank  were  sure  that  in  all  their 
lives  they  were  never  so  tired.  Leaving  the 
three  men  to  talk  and  smoke,  they  stretched 
out  on  their  blankets,  wrapping  themselves  in 
them,  and  almost  immediately  sank  into  deep, 
dreamless  slumber. 

The  sleep  had  lasted  perhaps  a  couple  of 
hours,  when,  without  any  apparent  cause, 
Frank  Mansley  awoke  in  the  full  possession  of 
his  senses.  Lying  motionless,  he  listened  to  the 
soft  breathing  of  his  cousin  beside  him,  while 
the  regular  respiration  of  the  men  left  no  doubt 
of  their  condition.  Everything  around  was  in 
blank,  impenetrable  darkness  and  all  profoundly 
still. 

"  It's  strange  that  I  should  awake  like  this," 
he  thought,  slightly  shifting  his  position. 
"I'm  tired,  and  was  so  drowsy  that  I  felt  as  if 


THE  AVALANCHE.  57 

I  could  sleep  a  week,  but  I  was  never  wider 
awake  than  I  am  this  minute — 

Amid  the  all-pervading  silence  he  was  sensi 
ble  of  a  low,  solemn  murmur,  like  that  of  the 
distant  ocean.  At  first  it  seemed  to  be  the 
"  voice  of  silence"  itself,  but  it  steadily  in 
creased  in  volume  until  its  roar  became  over 
powering.  Startled  and  frightened,  he  lay 
still,  wondering  what  it  could  mean,  or  whether 
his  senses  were  deceiving  him.  Then  he  sud 
denly  remembered  the  vast  masses  of  ice  and 
snow  which  towered  above  them  all  through 
the  day.  He  recalled  the  stories  he  had  read 
of  the  glaciers  and  avalanches,  and  how  Tim 
McCabe  had  referred  to  them  as  sometimes 
overtaking  travellers  in  this  part  of  the  world. 

He  knew  what  it  meant,  and,  leaping  from 
his  couch,  he  shouted  : 

' '  Wake  up  !  Quick  !  An  avalanche  is  upon 
us  !" 


CHAPTER  V. 

THROUGH    CHILKOOT    PASS. 

As  Frank  Mansley's  words  rang  through  the 
tent  they  were  followed  by  the  awful  roar  of 
the  descending  avalanche,  and  all  awoke  on 
the  instant.  But  no  one  could  do  anything  to 
save  himself.  They  could  only  cower  and  pray 
to  Heaven  to  protect  them. 

Something  struck  the  side  of  the  tent,  like 
the  plunge  of  a  mountain  torrent,  yet  it  was 
not  that,  nor  was  it  the  snow.  Tim  McCabe 
knew  its  nature,  and  catching  his  breath,  he 
called  : 

"  It's  the  wind  of  the  avalanche  !  That 
won't  hurt  ye  I1' 

The  wonder  was  that  it  did  not  blow  the  can 
vas  like  a  feather  from  its  path ;  but  the  tent 
held  its  position,  and  the  appalling  rush  and 
roar  ceased  with  more  suddenness  than  it  had 
begun.  The  throbbing  air  became  still. 

Jeff  Graham,  who  had  not  spoken,  struck  a 


THROUGH  CHILKOOT  PASS.  59 

match,  and  holding  it  above  his  head,  peered 
around  the  interior  of  the  tent,  which  he  ob 
served  had  sagged  a  good  deal  from  the  impact 
of  the  avalanche's  breath,  though  the  stakes 
held  their  places  in  the  snow.  He  saw  Frank 
Mansley  standing  pale  with  affright,  while 
Eoswell,  sitting  on  the  edge  of  his  couch,  was 
equally  startled.  Ike  Hardman  had  covered 
his  face  with  his  blanket,  like  a  child,  who  thus 
seeks  to  escape  an  impending  danger.  Incredi 
ble  as  it  may  seem,  Tim  McCabe  was  filling  his 
pipe  in  the  gloom,  preparatory  to  a  smoke. 

"  Be  aisy,"  was  his  comment,  as  he  struck  a 
match  and  held  it  above  the  bowl  ;  "  we're  as 
safe  as  if  in  'Frisco,  and  a  little  safer,  for  it's 
whin  ye  are  there  ye  are  liable  to  have  an  airth- 
quake  tumble  the  buildings  about  yer  hid. ' ' 

"  Wasn't  that  an  avalanche?"  asked  the 
amazed  Frank. 

"  It  was  that,  but  it  didn't  hit  us.  If  we 
had  put  up  the  tint  a  little  beyant  and  further 
to  the  right,  we'd've  been  mashed  flat." 

He  spoke  the  truth.  The  enormous  mass  of 
snow,  weighing  thousands  of  tons,  had  toppled 
over  and  slid  down  the  mountain-side  with  a 
roar  like  Niagara,  but  stopped  short,  just  be- 


00  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

fore  reaching  the  tent.  Some  of  the  feathery 
particles  sailed  forward  and  struck  the  canvas, 
the  greatest  effect  being  produced  by  the  wind, 
but  the  monster  was  palsied  before  he  could 
reach  forward  and  seize  his  victims. 

When  the  situation  became  clear,  every  one 
uttered  expressions  of  gratitude,  but  the  boys 
were  not  relieved  of  all  fear.  What  had  taken 
place  might  occur  again. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  was  Tim's  reassuring  re 
ply.  "  I've  obsarved  the  things  before,  and 
we  shan't  be  bothered  agin  to-night.  Take 
me  advice  and  go  to  sleep,  which  the  same  is 
what  I  shall  do  mesilf  as  soon  as  I  finishes  me 
smoke. ' ' 

The  shock,  however,  had  been  too  great  for 
all  to  compose  their  nerves  at  once.  Jeff  was 
the  first  to  succumb,  having  faith  in  the  assur 
ance  of  his  friend,  and  Ike  Hardman  soon  fol 
lowed  him  in  the  land  of  dreams.  Frank  and 
Roswell  lay  for  a  long  time  talking  in  low 
tones,  but  finally  drowsiness  overcame  them, 
and  with  the  pungent  odor  of  Tim's  pipe  in 
their  nostrils  they  sank  into  slumber,  which 
was  not  broken  until  Jeff  called  to  them  that 
breakfast  was  waiting. 


THROUGH  CHILKOOT  PASS.  61 

The  melted  snow  furnished  what  water  they 
needed  to  drink  and  in  which  to  lave  their 
faces  and  hands.  Then,  before  eating,  they 
hurried  outside  the  tent  to  survey  the  snowy 
mountain  that  had  come  so  near  swallowing 
them  up.  They  were  filled  with  amazement 
when  they  looked  upon  the  vast  pile,  amid 
which  were  observed  many  chunks  and  masses 
of  ice,  several  that  must  have  weighed  hundreds 
of  pounds,  lying  on  the  snow  within  a  few  yards 
of  the  tent.  Had  one  of  these  been  precipitated 
against  the  shelter,  it  would  have  crushed  the 
inmates,  like  the  charge  from  the  most  enor 
mous  of  our  seacoast  guns.  It  was  a  providen 
tial  escape,  indeed,  for  our  friends,  and  it  was 
no  wonder  that  they  continued  to  discuss  it 
and  to  express  their  gratitude  to  Heaven,  that 
had  mercifully  shielded  them  while  they  slept. 

Standing  at  Sheep  Camp,  they  saw  the  sum 
mit  towering  thirty-five  hundred  feet  in  front, 
though  Chilkoot  Pass,  which  they  were  to  fol 
low,  is  five  hundred  feet  lower.  The  task  of 
climbing  to  the  summit  of  this  pass  is  of  tl;e 
most  trying  nature  conceivable,  and  many 
gold -seekers  have  turned  back  in  despair. 
Terrific  weather  is  often  encountered,  and  men 


62  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

have  been  held  in  camp  for  weeks,  during 
which  the  crest  of  the  mountains  was  hidden 
by  clouds  and  tempests,  and  the  whirling  snow 
and  sleet  were  so  blinding  that  they  hardly 
ventured  to  peep  out  from  their  tent.  The 
weather  was  such  as  has  baffled  the  most  in 
trepid  of  explorers  for  centuries  in  their  search 
for  the  North  Pole. 

Our  friends  were  unusually  fortunate  in 
being  favored  with  good  weather,  there  being 
hardly  any  Avind  stirring,  while,  more  Avonder- 
ful  than  all,  the  sun  shone  from  an  unclouded 
sky,  in  a  section  where  the  clear  days  average 
less  than  seventy  degrees  in  the  course  of  the 
entire  year. 

No  one  who  has  ever  climbed  Chilkoot  Pass 
will  forget  it.  Some,  alas  !  Avho  ha\^e  made  the 
attempt  neATer  succeeded  in  reaching  the  other 
side,  but  perished  in  the  frightful  region  ;  Avhile 
many  more  haA^e  become  disheartened  by  the 
perils  and  difficulties  and  turned  back  Avhen  on 
the  threshold  of  the  modern  El  Dorado.  At 
the  foot  of  the  pass  our  friends  met  tAvo  men, 
bending  IOAAT  Avith  the  packs  strapped  to  their 
shoulders,  and  plodding  Avearily  southAvard. 
Tim  called  to  them  to  knoAV  Avhat  the  trouble 


THROUGH  CHILKOOT  PASS.  63 

was,  and  received  a  glum  answer,  accompanied 
by  an  oath  that  they  had  had  enough  of  such 
a  country,  and  if  they  ever  lived  to  reach  New 
York,  they  would  shoot  any  man  who  pro 
nounced  the  word  "  Klondike"  in  their  pres 
ence. 

It  is  a  curious  fact  regarding  this  famous  pass 
that  the  snow  with  which  it  is  choked  is  what 
makes  it  possible  for  travel.  The  snow  some 
times  lies  to  the  depth  of  fifty  or  sixty  feet,  and 
from  February,  through  May,  and  often  June, 
its  smooth  surface  allows  one  to  walk  over  it 
without  trouble.  Should  it  be  fine  and  yielding, 
the  snow-shoes  come  into  play,  but  Avhen  the 
crust  is  hard,  no  better  support  could  be  asked. 
The  trouble  lies  in  the  steep  incline,  which  be 
comes  more  decided  the  higher  one  climbs. 

Underneath  this  enormous  mass  rush  violent 
torrents  of  water,  which,  hollowing  out  pas 
sages  for  themselves,  leave  the  snow  white 
arches  far  above,  over  which  one  walks  upon  a 
natural  bridge.  Later  in  the  season,  when  the 
effects  of  the  warm  weather  are  felt,  these 
arches  begin  to  tumble  in,  and  the  incautious 
traveller  who  misses  his  footing  and  drops  into 
one  of  the  huge  crevices  is  lost. 


01  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

As  has  been  said,  the  steepness  increases  as 
one  approaches  the  top,  the  last  five  hundred 
feet  being  like  the  roof  of  a  house.  Bending 
forward  under  their  loads,  our  friends  often 
found  their  noses  within  a  few  inches  of  the 
snow,  while  masses  of  rock  protruding  in  many 
places  added  to  the  difficulties  of  travel.  The 
combined  strength  of  the  party  was  required  to 
get  a  single  sled  to  the  top.  While  one  was 
left  behind,  they  joined  in  pushing  and  pulling 
the  other,  with  frequent  pauses  for  rest,  until, 
after  hours  of  the  hardest  work  conceivable, 
they  succeeded  in  reaching  the  summit.  Then, 
resting  again,  they  began  their  descent  for  the 
other  sled.  It  was  fortunate  that  the  crust  of 
the  snow  removed  the  need  of  using  the  long 
snow-shoes,  Avhose  make  suggests  the  bats  used 
in  playing  tennis,  for  the  men  were  the  only 
ones  who  knew  how  to  handle  the  awkward 
contrivances,  which  would  have  proved  a  sore 
perplexity  for  Roswell  and  Frank. 

Under  some  circumstances  it  becomes  a  ques 
tion  which  is  the  harder,  to  descend  or  ascend  a 
steep  hill.  Despite  the  utmost  care,  the  whole 
five  stumbled  several  times.  Roswell  felt  the 
chills  run  through  him,  and  he  held  his  breath 


ALL   JOINED    IN    PUSHING   AND    PULLING    ONE    SLED. 


THROUGH  CHILKOOT  PASS.  67 

in  dismay  when  he  saw  himself  sliding  toward 
the  edge  of  a  ravine,  over  which  if  he  fell  he 
would  have  been  dashed  to  death  on  the  in 
stant.  While  desperately  trying  to  check  himself, 
he  shouted  for  help,  but  it  looked  equally  fatal 
for  any  one  to  venture  near  him,  since  the  slope 
was  so  abrupt  that  he  could  not  check  himself. 

Jeff  Graham  was  carrying  the  coil  of  rope 
which  he  had  loosened  from  the  first  sled,  and, 
seeing  the  peril  of  his  young  friend,  he  flung 
the  end  toward  him  with  the  skill  of  a  Mexican 
or  cowboy  in  throwing  the  rita,  or  lasso.  The 
youth  was  slipping  downward  on  his  face,  with 
his  terrified  countenance  turned  appealingly  to 
his  friends,  while  he  tried,  by  jamming  his  toes 
and  clutching  at  the  surface,  to  check  himself, 
and  Frank  was  on  the  point  of  going  to  his 
help  when  the  end  of  the  rope  struck  his  shoul 
der  and  he  seized  it  with  both  hands.  The  next 
minute  he  was  drawn  back  to  safety. 

"I'm  surprised  wid  ye,"  remarked  Tim 
McCabe,  when  the  panting  youth  stood  among 
them  again.  "  I  thought  ye  were  too  tired  to 
indulge  in  any  such  foolin'.  Whin  ye  want  to 
slide  down  hill,  make  use  of  the  slid  instead  of 
your  stummick. ' ' 


68  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  I  don't  think  I'll  want  to  do  any  more  slid 
ing  down  hill  in  this  part  of  the  world, ' '  replied 
the  frightened,  but  grateful  youth. 

Once  more  they  bent  to  their  work,  and  pull 
ing  themselves  together,  succeeded  at  last  in 
reaching  the  summit  Avith  the  second  sled,  the 
whole  party  utterly  used  up.  Even  Jeff 
Graham  sat  down  on  one  of  the  loads,  panting 
and  too  tired  to  speak.  When  he  found  voice, 
he  said  : 

"  What  fools  we  are  !  And  yet  if  I  went 
back  to  'Frisco,  I'd  start  agin  for  the  Klondike 
the  next  day;  so  I  reckon  we'll  keep  on." 

No  one  responded,  for  they  were  so  wearied 
that  talking  itself  was  labor. 

Looking  to  the  southwest,  they  could  see  the 
blue  shimmer  of  the  Pacific,  where  the  Gulf  of 
Alaska  rolls  its  white  surges  against  the  dismal 
shores.  Far  in  the  distance  a  faint  line  against 
the  sky  showed  where  a  steamer  was  probably 
ploughing  its  way  to  St.  Michael's,  with  hun 
dreds  of  gold -seekers  on  board,  the  van  of  the 
army  that  is  pushing  toward  the  Klondike 
from  the  West,  the  South,  and  the  East,  until 
it  would  seem  that  even  that  immense  region 
must  overflow  with  the  innumerable  multitudes, 


THROUGH  CHILKOOT  PASS.  69 

drawn  thither  by  the  most  resistless  magnet 
that  can  make  men  brave  peril,  suffering,  and 
death. 

Turning  in  the  opposite  direction,  they  saw 
the  mountain  slope  melting  away  in  the  great 
valley  of  the  Yukon,  with  the  trail  leading 
through  a  narrow,  rocky  gap,  and  with  naked 
granite  rocks  rising  steeply  to  the  partly  snow- 
clad  mountains.  The  party  had  been  fortunate 
in  completing  the  ascent  in  less  than  a  day, 
when  it  often  requires  twice  as  long.  The  first 
half  mile  of  the  descent  Avas  steep,  when  the 
slope  becomes  more  gradual.  The  glare  of  the 
snow  compelled  all  to  use  their  glasses,  and 
seven  miles  from  the  summit  they  reached  the 
edge  of  timber,  where  camp  was  made. 

Freed  from  all  fear  of  descending  avalanches, 
with  plenty  of  food  and  wood  for  fuel,  the  ex 
hausted  gold-hunters  lay  down  on  their  blan 
kets,  resting  upon  more  hemlock  boughs,  and 
enjoyed  the  most  refreshing  sleep  since  leaving 
the  steamer  at  Juneau.  It  was  not  until  con 
siderably  after  daylight  that  Jeff  awoke  and 
started  a  new  fire,  with  which  to  prepare  their 
breakfast,  and  when  that  was  ready  the  boys 
were  roused  from  slumber. 


70  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

They  were  now  within  three  miles  of  Lake 
Lincleman,  a  body  of  water  five  miles  in  length, 
and  the  journey  was  speedily  made.  It  was 
on  the  shore  of  this  lake  that  the  party  expected 
to  build  a  raft  or  boat  with  which  to  make  the 
long,  rough  voyage  to  the  Yukon,  but,  to  their 
pleased  surprise,  they  found  an  old  Indian,  with 
a  broad  scow,  anxious  to  transport  them  and 
their  luggage  to  the  foot  of  the  lake.  He  had 
already  secured  three  men  and  their  outfits, 
but  was  able  to  carry  the  new  arrivals,  and 
Jeff  was  not  long  in  making  a  bargain  with 
him. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

A    SIGNIFICANT    DISCOVERY. 

GAME  is  so  scarce  in  the  valley  of  the  Upper 
Yukon  and  in  the  Klondike  country  that  many 
gold-seekers  take  no  firearms  at  all  with  them. 
Years  ago  the  Indians  showed  occasional  hos 
tility  toward  the  missions  and  trading-posts, 
but  nothing  now  is  to  be  feared  from  them. 
They  are  often  hired  to  help  carry  loads  through 
the  passes,  and  with  that  aptitude  for  imitating 
the  white  man,  they  have  speedily  learned  to 
charge  high  prices  for  their  labor. 

Before  leaving  Juneau,  Jeff  Graham  pre 
sented  each  of  his  little  party  with  an  excellent 
revolver,  quoting  the  remark  which  a  cowboy 
once  made  to  a  tenderfoot  : 

"  You  may  not  want  the  weapon  often,  but 
when  you  do  you'll  want  it  mighty  bad." 

Jeff  took  with  him  his  own  pistol  which  he 
had  carried  for  years,  besides  which  he  was  pro 
vided  with  a  fine  Winchester  rifle.  He  knew 


KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

he  was  not  likely  to  find  any  use  for  it  in  shoot- 
ing  game,  but  he  grimly  observed  that  if  a  pistol 
should  prove  handy,  the  larger  weapon  was  apt 
to  prove  much  more  so. 

The  Indian  who  engaged  to  take  them  to  the 
foot  of  Lake  Lindeman  was  old,  but  wiry  and 
tough,  and  understood  his  business.     He  could 
speak  a  few  words  of  English,  which  were 
enough  for  his  purposes.     He  raised  a  small 
soiled  sail  of  canvas  on  the  scow,  and  with  the 
help  of  a  long  pole  kept  the  heavily  laden  craft 
moving.      Although  the  lake   was  open  thus 
early  in  the  season,  the  shores  were  lined  with 
ice,  much  of  it  extending  into  the  water  for  a 
number    of    rods.       Huge     cakes     sometimes 
bumped  against  the  scow,  but  they  caused  no 
damage,  and  did  not  interfere  with  its  progress. 
The  three  men  who  had  first  engaged  the 
boat  looked  as  if  they  had  come  a  long  distance. 
Our  friends  had  no  recollection  of  having  seen 
them  on  the  steamer  from  Seattle  or  on  the 
steam  launch  that  connects  Juneau  with  Dyea 
at  the  head  of  Lynn  Canal.     Where  they  came 
from,  therefore,  was  a  mystery,  the  probability 
being  that  they  had  been  loitering  about  Dyea 
for  a  long  time,  waiting  for  the  season  to  ad- 


A  SIGNIFICANT  DISCOVERT.  73 

vance  sufficiently  to  allow  them  to  start  for  the 
Yukon.  They  seemed  reserved  to  the  point  of 
sullenness,  keeping  by  themselves  and  showing 
so  much  antipathy  to  any  approach  that  they 
were  let  alone. 

But  just  before  the  foot  of  the  lake,  nearly 
six  miles  distant,  was  reached,  Frank  Mansley 
made  an  interesting  discovery.  The  most  ill- 
favored  of  the  trio  was  an  acquaintance  of  Ike 
Hardman.  No  one  else  noticed  the  significant 
fact,  and  it  was  partly  through  accident  that 
the  truth  came  to  the  lad. 

The  two  men  acted  as  if  strangers,  not  ex 
changing  a  word  on  the  passage,  and  seemingly 
feeling  no  interest  in  each  other.  All  of 
Frank's  friends  were  near  the  bow  of  the  boat, 
looking  to  where  they  were  soon  to  touch  shore. 
Two  of  the  strangers  were  standing  just  back 
of  and  near  them,  while  Hardman  was  in  the 
middle  of  the  boat,  apparently  watching  the 
old  Indian  as  he  plied  his  paddle  with  untiring 
vigor. 

The  third  stranger  was  at  the  stern,  seated  on 
the  gunwale,  smoking  a  clay  pipe  and  seem 
ingly  taking  no  note  of  anything  about  him. 
When  Ike  Hardman  sauntered  among  the  piles 


74  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

of  luggage  to  the  rear,  Frank  was  impelled  by  an 
impulse  for  which  he  could  not  account  to  watch 
him.  He  had  no  well-defined  suspicion,  and  least 
of  all  did  he  suspect  what  proved  to  be  the  truth. 

Hardman  halted  a  few  paces  from  the  man 
sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  boat,  and,  so  far  as 
appearances  went,  did  not  pay  any  attention 
to  him.  A  quick,  furtive  glance  to  the  front 
put  the  lad  on  his  guard,  and  he,  too,  turned 
his  face  toward  land,  but  his  position  was  such 
that  he  could  look  sideways  at  the  two,  while 
not  seeming  to  do  so. 

Suddenly  Hardman,  with  his  back  partly 
toward  the  youth,  made  a  sign  with  his  hands, 
the  meaning  of  which  Frank  could  not  catch, 
because  the  signal  was  not  fully  seen,  but  the 
fellow  sitting  down  nodded  his  head,  and  taking 
his  pipe  from  between  his  lips,  said  something  in 
so  guarded  a  voice  that  only  the  ears  for  which 
the  words  were  intended  could  understand  them. 

This  brief  interchange  ought  to  have  been 
enough,  but  Hardman  did  not  appear  to  think 
so.  He  stepped  somewhat  closer,  and  he,  too, 
spoke,  still  gesticulating  with  one  of  his  hands. 
The  man  addressed  was  impatient.  He  nodded 
again  in  a  jerky  fashion,  and  made  answer 


A  SIGNIFICANT  DISCOVERY.  77 

with  less  caution,  as  a  consequence  of  which 
the  eavesdropper  caught  the  words,  "  Yes, 
yes,  to-night  ;  I  understand." 

Ilardman  was  satisfied,  and  came  back  to 
the  front  of  the  boat,  which  was  now  approach 
ing  the  shore.  His  friend  smoked  a  few  min 
utes  until  the  scow  bumped  against  the  projec 
tion  of  ice,  and,  the  old  Indian  leaping  lightly 
out,  carried  the  heavy  stone  anchor  as  far  as 
the  rope  would  permit.  This  held  the  boat  in 
place,  and  the  unloading  began.  The  Indian 
offered  to  help  for  an  extravagant  price,  but 
his  offer  was  refused,  and  the  respective  parties 
busied  themselves  with  their  own  work. 

The  discovery  made  by  Frank  Mansley  caused 
him  considerable  uneasiness.  The  dislike  which 
he  felt  toward  Ilardman  the  first  time  he  saw 
him  had  never  abated,  and  it  was  the  same  with 
his  cousin.  Young  as  they  were,  they  felt 
that  a  great  mistake  was  made  when  Ilardman 
was  allowed  to  join  the  party,  and  they  won 
dered  that  Jeff  permitted  it,  but,  as  has  been 
shown,  they  were  too  discreet  to  object. 

That  Ilardman,  on  his  part,  detested  the 
youths  was  apparent,  though  he  tried  to  con 
ceal  the  feeling  when  he  feared  it  might  attract 


78  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

the  attention  of  others.  He  had  little  to  say  to 
them  or  they  to  him.  Frank  decided  to  tell  his 
chum  of  the  discovery  he  had  made,  and  they 
would  consult  as  to  whether  they  should  take 
J  eff  and  Tim  into  their  confidence. 

Meanwhile,  the  trio  gathered  their  loads  upon 
their  backs  and  started  northward  without  so 
much  as  calling  good-by  to  those  whom  they 
left  behind,  and  who  were  not  sorry  to  part 
company  with  them. 

The  gold-hunters  had  had  a  little  lift  on  their 
journey,  but  it  was  not  worth  considering,  in 
view  of  what  remained  before  them.  A  mile 
advance  with  sleds  and  their  packs  took  them 
to  the  head  of  Lake  Bennet,  Avhere  it  may  be 
said  the  navigation  of  the  Yukon  really  begins. 
The  lake  is  about  twenty-eight  miles  long,  con 
tains  a  number  of  islands,  and  in  going  to  the 
foot  one  passes  from  Alaska  into  British  Co 
lumbia.  Along  its  shores  were  scores  of  miners, 
busily  engaged  in  building  boats  with  which  to 
make  the  rest  of  the  journey.  Sad  to  say, 
owing  to  their  impatience  and  lack  of  skill,  some 
of  the  boats  were  so  flimsy  and  ill -const  rue  ted 
that  they  were  certain  to  go  to  pieces  in  the 
fierce  rapids  below,  and  add  their  owners  to 


A  SIGNIFICANT  DISCOVERY.  79 

the  long  list  of  victims  whose  bodies  strew  the 
pathway  from  Chilkoot  to  the  Upper  Yukon. 

Here,  too,  it  became  necessary  for  our  friends 
to  build  a  craft,  and  since  it  was  comparatively 
early  in  the  day,  Jeff  and  Tim,  each  with  an 
axe  over  his  shoulder,  went  into  the  Avood,  al 
ready  partly  cut  down,  Hardman  accompany 
ing  them,  in  order  to  bear  his  turn.  The  boys 
remained  behind  to  guard  the  property,  though 
their  neighbors  were  so  occupied  with  their  own 
affairs  that  they  gave  them  little  heed.  Frank 
took  the  opportunity  to  tell  his  companion 
what  he  had  observed  on  the  boat  while  cross 
ing  the  lake. 

"  Ilardman  has  joined  our  company  for  some 
evil  purpose,"  said  Roswell,  "and  the  other 
man  is  his  partner  in  the  plot. ' ' 

"  But  they  are  gone,  and  we  may  not  see 
them  again." 

"  One  of  them,  at  least,  has  an  understand 
ing  with  Hardman,  and  will  keep  him  within 
hailing  distance." 

u  AVe  will  say  nothing  to  Jeff  or  Tim  until 
to-morrow  ;  I  fear  that  we  shall  learn  some 
thing  to-night." 

The  boy  was  right  in  his  supposition. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    PLOTTERS. 

ALL  day  long  the  two  axes  swung  vigorous 
ly.  Both  Jeff  and  Tim  were  expert  woodmen, 
and  they  felled  pine  after  pine.  Hardman 
pleaded  that  he  was  unaccustomed  to  such 
work  ;  but  Jeff  grimly  told  him  he  could  never 
have  a  better  chance  to  learn  to  cut  down 
trees,  and  compelled  him  to  take  his  turn. 
The  work  was  continued  until  dark,  which,  it 
will  be  remembered,  comes  much  later  in  the 
far  North  than  in  our  latitude. 

The  distance  between  the  scene  of  their  work 
and  the  point  where  the  outfits  and  goods  were 
piled  was  so  slight  that  there  was  really  no 
need  of  the  boys  remaining  on  guard.  Feel 
ing  that  they  were  favored  too  much,  they 
sauntered  to  the  wood  and  asked  the  privilege 
of  taking  a  hand  in  felling  the  trees.  It  was 
granted  ;  but  they  made  such  sorry  Avork,  find 
ing  it  almost  impossible  to  sink  the  blade  twice 


THE  PLOTTERS.  81 

in  the  same  spot,  that  they  yielded  the  imple 
ments  to  those  who  understood  the  business  so 
much  better. 

The  snow  was  deep,  and  the  camp  was  much 
the  same  as  the  one  made  before  entering  Chil- 
koot  Pass.  All  were  tired,  and  lay  clown  after 
the  evening  meal,  glad  of  the  opportunity  for  a 
few  hours'  sleep. 

In  accordance  with  their  agreement,  the  boys 
said  nothing  to  either  of  their  friends  about 
what  Frank  had  observed  on  the  boat.  It  was 
understood  between  them  that  they  were  to 
feign  sleep,  but  to  keep  watch  of  Hardman 
during  the  night  as  long  as  they  could  remain 
awake.  Ordinarily  it  is  a  difficult  if  not  im 
possible  task  for  one  to  fight  off  the  insidious 
approach  of  slumber,  but  Frank  Mansley  had 
wrought  himself  into  such  a  state  of  anxiety 
that  he  was  sure  he  could  command  his  senses 
until  well  toward  morning. 

He  and  Rosweil  lay  under  the  same  blanket, 
with  their  backs  to  each  other,  while  the  others 
were  by  themselves,  the  interior  of  the  tent 
barely  permitting  the  arrangement.  Had  any 
one  stealthily  entered  fifteen  minutes  after 
they  had  lain  down,  he  would  have  declared 


82  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

that  all  were  asleep,  though  such  was  not  the 
fact. 

Despite  his  nervousness,  Frank  was  beginning 
to  feel  drowsy  when  he  was  startled  and  set 
on  edge  by  a  sound  that  penetrated  the  pro 
found  silence.  It  resembled  the  whistle  of  a 
bird  from  the  timber,  soft,  clear,  and  tremu 
lous.  Almost  in  the  same  instant  he  heard  one 
of  the  men  rise  stealthily  from  his  couch.  It 
was  easy  to  determine,  from  the  direction  of 
the  slight  rustle,  that  it  was  Hardman. 

Frank  thrust  his  elbow  into  the  back  of  his 
comrade  as  a  warning  for  him  to  be  alert  ;  but 
there  was  no  response.  Eos  well  had  been 
asleep  for  an  hour.  It  was  too  dark  to  per 
ceive  anything  within  the  tent,  though  all  was 
clear  outside  ;  but  the  lad's  senses  were  in  that 
tense  condition  that  he  heard  the  man  lift  the 
flap  of  the  tent  and  move  softly  over  the  snow 
on  the  outside.  With  the  same  silence,  Frank 
flung  back  the  blanket  that  enveloped  him  and 
stepped  out  on  the  packed  snow  of  the  interior. 
Pausing  but  a  moment,  he  crept  through  the 
opening.  In  that  cold  region  men  sleep  in  their 
clothing,  so  he  had  nothing  to  fear  from  ex 
posure. 


THE  PLOTTERS.  83 

The  night  was  brilliantly  clear,  the  sky 
studded  with  stars,  and  not  a  breath  of  air 
stirring.  He  remained  a  brief  while  in  a 
crouching  posture,  while  he  peered  in  different 
directions.  Before  him  stretched  the  lake,  its 
shores  crusted  with  snow  and  ice,  with  the  cold 
water  shining  in  the  star-gleam.  Still  stooping 
low  and  looking  intently  about  him,  he  saw 
something  move  between  the  tent  and  the 
water.  A  second  glance  revealed  Hardman, 
who  was  standing  alone  and  looking  about  him, 
as  if  he  expected  the  approach  of  some  person. 
Impatient  at  the  delay,  he  repeated  the  signal 
that  had  aroused  the  attention  of  Frank  a  few 
minutes  before. 

The  tremulous  note  had  scarcely  pierced  the 
air  when  a  shadowy  form  emerged  from  the 
wood  and  walked  the  short  distance  that  took 
him  to  the  waiting  Hardman.  The  two  were 
so  far  off  that  it  was  impossible  to  identify 
him  ;  but  the  lad  was  as  certain  it  was  the 
man  who  had  exchanged  the  words  and  signs 
with  Hardman  as  if  the  noonday  sun  were 
shining. 

Frank  Mansley  would  have  given  anything 
he  had  to  be  able  to  steal  near  enough  to  over- 


84  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

hear  what  passed  between  them,  but  that  was 
clearly  impossible.  To  move  from  his  pla.ce  by 
the  tent  was  certain  to  bring  instant  detection. 
Now  and  then  he  could  catch  the  faint  mur 
mur  of  their  voices,  but  not  once  was  he  able 
to  distinguish  a  syllable  that  was  uttered. 

The  interview  lasted  but  a  short  time.  What 
ever  understanding  was  reached  between  the 
plotters  must  have  been  simple,  else  it  would 
not  have  been  effected  so  soon.  Suddenly  the 
stranger  moved  off  over  the  snow  in  the  direc 
tion  of  the  wood  and  disappeared  among  the 
trees.  At  the  same  moment  Hardman  moved 
silently  toward  the  tent.  Frank  was  on  the 
alert,  and  when  the  man  entered  he  was  lying 
on  his  couch,  his  blanket  over  him,  and  his 
chilled  body  against  the  warm  form  of  his 
comrade,  who  recoiled  slightly  with  a  shiver, 
though  he  did  not  awake. 

The  fear  of  Frank  Mansley  had  been  that 
the  two  men  were  plotting  some  scheme  for  the 
robbery  of  Jeff,  though  it  would  seem  that  they 
would  prefer  to  wait  until  he  had  made  a  strike 
in  the  gold  district.  What  the  youth  had  seen 
convinced  him  that  the  latter  plan  would  be 
followed,  or  at  least  attempted,  and  he  had 


YOU'RE  A  PRETTY  FELLOW  TO  STAND  GUARD,"  SAID  FRANK. 


THE  PLOTTERS.  87 

hardly  reached  that   conclusion  when  he  fell 

asleep. 

"  You're  a  pretty  fellow  to  stand  guard,"  he 
remarked  to  his  cousin  the  next  morning,  after 
the  men  had  gone  to  the  wood  again. 

"  I  didn't  try  to  stand  guard,"  replied  Ros- 
well  with  a  laugh  ;  "I  was  lying  down  all 
the  time." 

"  Why  didn't  you  keep  awake  ?" 

"  Because  I  fell  asleep,  and  you  would  have 
done  the  same  if  you  hadn't  kept  awake." 

"  Probably  I  should— most  people  do  ;  but 
what  do  you  think  of  it,  Roswell  ?" 

"  First  tell  me  something  to  think  of." 

His  cousin  told  all  that  he  had  seen  the  night 
before. 

"  There  can't  be  any  doubt  that  Hardman 
and  one,  if  not  all  three  of  those  fellows,  are 
plotting  mischief.  It  might  have  been  one  of 
the  others  who  signalled  to  and  met  him.  I 
think  we  ought  to  tell  Jeff." 

"We'll  do  so  before  night.  It  isn't  likely 
Hardman  suspects  anything,  and  you  will  have 
no  trouble  in  finding  the  chance. ' ' 

"  You  think  it  best  that  I  should  tell  Jeff  ?" 

"  By  all  means,  since  you  will  tell  what  you 


«8  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

saw.  Such  things  are  best  first-hand  ;  but 
neither  of  us  will  say  anything  to  Tim." 

"Why  not?" 

"  Jeff  is  the  leader  of  this  expedition.  Tim 
is  so  soft-hearted  that  likely  enough  he  would 
try  to  convince  Hardman  of  his  wrongdoing, 
and  so  put  him  on  his  guard.  Let  Jeff  tell  him 
if  he  chooses." 

"  I  hope  he  will  drive  Hardman  out  of  our 
party  ;  my  impression  of  him  is  that  he  would 
not  only  rob  but  kill  for  the  sake  of  gold." 

Eoswell  looked  grave.  The  same  thought 
had  been  in  his  mind,  but  he  disliked  to  give 
expression  to  it.  He  hoped  his  cousin  was 
wrong,  but  could  not  feel  certain  that  he  was. 

"  Frank,  make  an  excuse  for  calling  Jeff 
here  ;  he  ought  to  know  of  this  at  once. ' ' 

Looking  toward  the  timber,  they  saw  that 
their  friend  had  just  given  up  his  axe  to  Hard- 
man,  who  was  swinging  it  a  short  distance 
from  where  Tim  McCabe  was  lustily  doing  the 
same.  Frank  called  to  him,  and  when  the  old 
miner  looked  around,  he  beckoned  for  him  to 
approach.  Jeff  slouched  forward,  wondering 
why  the  boys  had  summoned  him  from  his 
work.  He  was  quickly  told.  He  listened, 


THE  PLOTTERS.  89 

silent,  but  deeply  interested,  until  the  story 
was  finished.  Then,  without  any  excitement, 
he  said,  "  Don't  let  Tim  know  anything  of  this, 
younkers  ;"  and,  with  a  strange  gleam  in  his 
keen  gray  eyes,  the  old  man  added,  "  I've  got  a 
Winchester  and  a  revolver,  and  I  keep  'em  both 
loaded,  and  I've  plenty  of  ammunition.  I 
think  I'll  have  use  for  'em  purty  soon." 


CHAPTEE   VIII. 

ON     LAKE     BENNET. 

THE  men  wrought  steadily  in  felling  trees, 
and  by  the  close  of  the  second  day  had  enough 
timber  for  their  raft.  It  would  have  been 
much  preferable  could  they  have  constructed  a 
good,  stout  boat ;  but  it  was  not  feasible,  though 
Jeff  and  Tim  would  have  built  it  had  they  pos 
sessed  the  necessary  planking  and  boards. 
They  had  provided  themselves  with  oakum, 
pitch,  and  other  material  ;  but  the  labor  of  saw 
ing  out  the  right  kind  of  stuff  would  have 
taken  Aveeks.  The  Irishman  had  learned  from 
his  late  experience  ;  as  a  result  of  which  n 
double-decker,  as  it  may  be  termed,  was 
planned.  This  consisted  first  of  a  substantial 
framework  of  buoyant  pine  logs,  securely  nailed 
together,  while  upon  that  was  reared  another 
some  two  feet  in  height.  This  upper  frame 
work  was  intended  to  bear  their  outfits,  over 
which  were  fastened  rubber  cloths.  The  Alas 
kan  lakes  are  often  swept  by  terrific  tempests, 


ON  LAKE  BENNET.  91 

the  waves  sometimes  dashing  entirely  over  the 
rafts  and  boats,  and  wetting  everything  that  is 
not  well  protected.  The  upper  deck  serves  also 
partially  to  protect  the  men. 

The  boys  spent  a  portion  of  the  days  in  fish 
ing.  There  was  a  notable  moderation  in  the 
weather,  the  snow  and  ice  rapidly  melting. 
Sitting  or  standing  on  the  bank,  they  cast  out 
their  lines,  baited  with  bits  of  meat,  and  met 
with  pleasing  success.  Plump,  luscious  white- 
fish,  grayling,  and  lake  trout  were  landed  in 
such  numbers  that  little  or  no  other  solid  food 
was  eaten  during  their  halt  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Bennet. 

Work  was  pushed  so  vigorously  that  on  the 
third  day  the  goods  were  carefully  piled  on  the 
upper  deck,  secured  in  place,  and  with  their 
long  poles  they  pushed  out  from  the  shore  on 
the  voyage  of  twenty-eight  miles  to  the  foot  of 
the  sheet  of  water.  They  were  provided  with 
a  sturdy  mast  reared  near  the  middle  of  the 
craft,  but  they  did  not  erect  a  sail,  for  the  rea 
son  that  the  strong  wind  which  was  blowing- 
was  almost  directly  from  the  north,  and  would 
have  checked  their  progress. 

The   unwieldy  structure    was   pushed   along 


92  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

the  eastern  side,  where  the  poles  were  service 
able  at  all  times.  Each  took  his  turn  at  the 
work,  the  boys  with  the  others,  and  the  prog 
ress,  if  slow,  was  sure. 

The  first  twelve  miles  of  Lake  Bennet  are 
quite  shallow,  with  a  width  barely  exceeding  a 
half  mile.  Fifteen  miles  down  occurs  the  junc 
tion  with  the  southwest  arm,  and  the  point  had 
hardly  come  into  sight  when  Tim  said : 

"  Xow  look  out  for  trouble,  for  here's  where 
we'll  catch  it  sure." 

All  understood  what  he  meant,  for  a  wind 
was  blowing  down  the  arm  with  such  fierce 
ness  that  it  looked  as  if  everything  would  be 
swept  off  the  raft.  The  prospect  was  so  threat 
ening  that  they  ran  inshore  while  yet  at  a  safe 
distance,  and  waited  for  the  gale  to  subside. 

"  Is  it  likely  to  last  long  ?"  asked  Roswell, 
when  they  had  secured  shelter. 

"That  depinds  how  far  off  the  end  of  the 
same  may  be,"  was  the  unsatisfactory  reply. 
"  I've  knowed  men  to  be  held  here  for  days, 
but  I  have  hopes  that  we  may  get  off  in  the 
coorse  of  two  or  three  weeks. ' ' 

The  boys  as  well  as  Jeff  could  not  believe 
that  Tim  was  in  earnest,  for  his  lightest  words 


ON  LAKE  BENNET.  93 

were  often  spoken  with  the  gravest  expression 
of  face  ;  but  their  former  experience  taught 
them  to  be  prepared  for  almost  any  whim  in 
the  weather.  They  recalled  those  dismal  days 
and  nights  earlier  on  their  journey,  when  they 
were  storm-stayed,  and  they  were  depressed  at 
the  thought  that  something  of  the  nature  might 
again  overtake  them.  When  the  boys  proposed 
to  put  up  the  tent,  the  Irishman  said  : 

"  It  is  early  in  the  day  ;  bide  awhile  before 
going  to  that  trouble." 

This  remark  convinced  them  that  he  was 
more  hopeful  of  a  release  than  would  be  im 
plied  from  his  words  ;  so  they  wrapped  their 
heavy  coats  closer  and  hoped  for  the  best.  The 
men  lit  their  pipes,  while  the  boys  huddled 
close  together  and  had  little  to  say.  Unexpect 
edly  there  came  such  a  lull  in  the  gale  early  in 
the  afternoon  that  the  voyage,  to  the  delight 
of  all,  was  resumed. 

Ike  Hardman  was  in  more  genial  spirits  than 
at  any  time  since  he  joined  the  company.  lie 
showed  an  eagerness  to  help,  declining  to  yield 
the  pole  when  Jeff  offered  to  relieve  him,  and 
ventured  now  and  then  upon  some  jest  with 
Koswell  and  Frank.  Their  distrust,  however, 


94  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

was  not  lessened,  and  they  were  too  honest  to 
affect  a  liking  that  it  was  impossible  to  feel. 
They  had  little  to  say  to  him,  and  noticing  the 
fact,  he  finally  let  them  alone.  Whatever  mis 
giving  Jeff  may  have  felt  was  skilfully  con 
cealed,  and  the  fellow  could  have  felt  no  sus 
picion  that  his  secret  was  suspected  by  any 
member  of  the  company. 

The  wind  blew  so  strongly  that  there  was 
some  misgiving  ;  but  observing  that  it  came 
from  the  right  quarter,  the  sail  was  hoisted, 
and  as  the  canvas  bellied  outward,  the  raft 
caught  the  impulse  and  began  moving  through 
the  water  at  a  rate  that  sent  the  ripples  flying- 
over  the  square  ends  of  the  logs  at  the  front. 
All  sat  down  on  the  upper  framework,  with  the 
exception  of  Jeff,  who  stood,  pole  in  hand,  at 
the  bow,  ready  to  guide  the  structure  should  it 
sheer  in  the  wrong  direction. 

The  conformation  of  the  shore  and  a  slight 
change  of  wind  carried  the  raft  farther  out  on 
the  lake.  Observing  that  it  was  getting  slight 
ly  askew,  Jeff  pushed  the  long  pole  downward 
until  his  hand  almost  touched  the  surface  of 
the  water.  While  holding  it  there  the  other 
end  bobbed  up,  having  failed  to  touch  ground. 


ON  LAKE  BEN  NET. 

"No  use,"  he  said,  facing  his  friends,  who 
were  watching  him,  "  the  bottom  may  be  half 
a  mile  below." 

"  That  looks  as  if  we're  over  our  hids,"  said 
Tim;  "  by  which  token,  if  this  steamer  blows 
up  we've  got  to  swim  for  our  lives,  and  I  never 
larned  to  swim  a  stroke." 

The  boys  looked  at  him  wonderingly. 

"  How  is  it  you  did  not  learn  ?"  asked  Ros- 

well. 

"  I've  tried  hundreds  of  times.  I  kept  in  the 
water  till  me  toes  begun  to  have  webs  between 
'em,  but  at  the  first  stroke  me  hid  went  down 
and  me  heels  up.  I  can  swim  in  that  style," 
he  added  gravely,  "  but  find  the  same  slightly 
inconvanient  owing  to  the  necissity  of  braithing 
now  and  thin.  I  tried  fur  a  long  time  to 
braithe  through  me  toes,  but  niver  made  much 
of  a  succiss  of  it." 

"And  I  learned  to  swim  in  one  day,"  re 
marked  Frank  ;  "  strange  that  you  should  have 
so  much  trouble." 

"  Undoubtedly  that's  because  yer  hid  is  so 
light,  while  me  own  brains  weigh  me  down  ; 
it's  aisy  to  understand  that." 

"  If  we  should  have  any  mishap,  Tim,"  said 


• 


96  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

Frank,  "you  must  remember  to  hold  fast  to  a 
piece  of  wood  to  help  you  float— a  small  bit  is 
enough." 

"  I  have  a  bitter  plan  than  that." 

"What  is  it?" 

"  Niver  have  anything  to  do  wid  the  water." 

"  That  would  be  certain  safety  if  you  could 
carry  it  out  ;  but  you  can't  help  it  all  times  — 
such,  for  instance,  as  the  present." 

"  And  I'm  thinking  we  shall  have  plinty  of 
the  same  before  we  raich  Dawson." 

"  After  we  get  to  the  foot  of  this  lake,  what 
comes  next,  Tim  ?" 

"  Caribou  Crossing,  which  we  pass  through 
to  Lake  Tagish,  which  isn't  quite  as  big  as  is 
this  one.  I'm  thinking,"  he  added  thought 
fully,  watching  the  rising  anger  of  the  waves* 
"  that  bime-by,  whin  we  come  near  land,  we'll 
be  going  that  fast  that  we'll  skim  over  the  snow 
like  a  sled  to  the  nixt  lake." 

Eoswell  pointed  to  the  shore  on  their  right, 
indicating  a  stake  which  rose  upright  from  the 
ground  and  stood  close  to  the  water. 

"  What  is  the  meaning  of  that  ?"  he  asked. 

"  That,"  replied  Tim,  "  marks  the  grave  of 
some  poor  chap  that  died  on  his  way  to  the 


"OH,  LOOK  THERE!   ISN'T  IT  DREADFUL?" 


ON  LAKE  BENNET.  99 

Klondike.  Do  ye  obsarve  that  cairn  of  stones  a 
bitbeyont?" 

Each  saw  it. 

"  That  marks  anither  grave  ;  and  ye  may 
call  to  mind  that  we  obsarved  more  of  the  same 
along  Lake  Lindeman. ' ' 

Such  was  the  fact,  though  this  was  the  first 
reference  to  them. 

i '  And  we  shall  hardly  be  out  of  sight  of  some 
of  the  same  all  the  way  to  the  Klondike  ;  and 
I'm  thinking,"  was  his  truthful  remark,  "  that 
hundreds  more  will  lay  their  bones  down  in  these 
parts  and  niver  see  their  loved  ones  again." 

It  was  a  sad  thought.  In  a  few  years  im 
proved  routes,  railway-tracks,  and  houses  for 
food  and  lodging  will  rob  the  Klondike  region 
of  its  terrors,  but  until  then  death  must  exact  a 
heavy  toll  from  the  gold-seekers  crowding  north 
ward,  without  regard  to  season  or  the  simplest 
laws  of  prudence. 

Roswell  was  standing  on  the  upper  deck, 
near  a  corner,  when  he  exclaimed  excitedly : 

"  Oh,  look  there  !     Isn't  it  dreadful  ?" 

He  was  pointing  out  on  the  lake,  and,  follow 
ing  the  direction  of  his  hand,  all  saw  the  an 
swer  to  his  question. 


CHAPTEE  IX. 

INTO    URITISH    TERRITORY. 

ALL  hurried  to  the  side  of  Boswell,  who  was 
pointing  to  a  place  a  short  distance  from  the  raft. 

It  was  the  body  of  a  man  that  they  saw, 
floating  face  upward.  His  clothing  was  good, 
and  the  white  features,  partly  hidden  by  a  black 
beard,  must  have  been  pleasing  in  life.  The 
feet  and  hands,  dangling  at  the  sides,  were  so 
low  in  the  water  that  only  when  stirred  by  the 
waves  did  they  show,  but  the  face  rose  and  fell, 
sometimes  above,  and  never  more  than  a  few 
inches  below,  so  that  it  was  in  view  all  the 
time. 

The  group  silently  viewed  the  scene.  The 
body  drifted  nearer  and  nearer  and  faintly 
touched  the  edge  of  the  raft,  as  the  wind  car 
ried  it  past.  Then  it  continued  dipping,  and 
gradually  floated  away  in  the  gathering  gloom. 

"  We  ought  to  give  it  burial,"  said  Frank  to 
Jeff,  who  shook  his  head. 


INTO  BRITISH  TERRITORY.  101 

"  What's  the  use  ?  We  might  tow  it  ashore, 
dig  up  a  foot  of  the  frozen  earth,  and  set  a 
wooden  cross  or  heap  of  stones  to  mark  the 
grave,  but  the  lake  is  as  good  a  burial-place  as 
it  could  have." 

"  I  wonder  who  he  could  have  been,"  said 
lioswell  thoughtfully.  k'  Some  man,  no  doubt, 
who  has  come  from  his  home  in  the  States, 
thousands  of  miles  away,  and  started  to  search 
for  gold.  He  may  have  left  wife  and  children 
behind,  who  will  look  longingly  for  his  coming, 
but  will  never  see  his  face  again." 

"  The  world  is  full  of  such  sad  things,"  ob 
served  Tim  McCabe,  impressed,  like  all,  with 
the  melancholy  incident,  and  then  he  expressed 
the  thought  that  was  in  the  mind  of  each: 
"  There  be  live  of  us  :  will  we  all  see  home 
again  ?" 

There  was  no  reply.  Hardman  had  not 
spoken,  and,  as  if  the  occasion  was  too  oppres 
sive,  he  sauntered  to  another  part  of  the  raft, 
while  the  rest  gradually  separated,  each  grave 
and  saddened  by  what  he  had  witnessed. 

It  is  well  for  us  to  turn  aside  from  the  hurly- 
burly  of  life  and  reflect  upon  the  solemn  fact  of 
the  inevitable  end  that  awaits  us  all. 


102  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

But  the  long  afternoon  was  drawing  to  a 
close,  and  the  question  to  be  considered  was 
whether  the  raft  should  be  allowed  to  drift  or 
land,  or  they  should  continue  forward,  despite 
a  certain  degree  of  danger  during  the  darkness. 
All  were  eager  to  improve  the  time,  and  Jeff, 
as  the  head  of  the  expedition,  said  they  would 
keep  at  it  at  least  for  a  while  longer. 

"  As  far  as  I  can  tell,"  he  said,  "  there's  no 
danger  of  running  into  anything  that'll  wreck 
us,  and  we  must  use  our  sail  while  we  can. 
Besides,"  he  added,  after  testing  it,  "  the 
water  is  so  deep  that  we  can't  reach  bottom, 
and  there  isn't  much  chance  to  help  ourselves." 

The  wind  which  swept  over  the  raft  had  risen 
almost  to  a  gale,  and  brought  with  it  a  few 
scurrying  flakes  of  snow.  There  was  a  per 
ceptible  fall  in  the  temperature,  and  the  chilly, 
penetrating  air  caused  all  to  shiver,  despite  their 
thick  clothing. 

Finally  night  closed  in,  and  the  raft  was  still 
drifting,  the  wind  carrying  it  four  or  five  miles 
an  hour.  The  night  was  so  short  that  the  hope 
was  general  that  the  straightforward  progress 
would  continue  until  sunrise,  though  Tim,  who 
was  better  acquainted  with  the  region,  ex- 


INTO  BRITISH  TERRITORY.  103 

pressed  the  belief  that  a  storm  of  several  days' 
duration  had  set  in. 

Since  there  was  nothing  to  do,  the  men  and 
boys  disposed  of  themselves  as  comfortably  as 
possible  on  the  lee  side  of  the  raft,  beyond 
reach  of  the  waves,  though  the  spray  now  and 
then  dashed  against  their  rubber  blankets  which 
each  had  wrapped  about  his  shoulders  and 
body.  After  a  time  Jeff  took  his  station  at  the 
bow,  though  an  almost  imperceptible  change  of 
wind  caused  the  structure  to  drift  partly  side 
ways. 

Koswell  and  Frank,  who  were  seated  back  to 
back  and  in  an  easy  attitude,  had  sunk  into  a 
doze,  when  both  were  startled  by  a  bump 
which  swung  them  partly  over.  They  straight 
ened  up  and  looked  around  in  the  gloom,  won 
dering  what  it  meant. 

"  We've  struck  shore,"  called  Jeff,  who  was 
the  only  one  on  watch.  ' '  The  voyage  is  over 
for  the  time. ' ' 

There  was  hurrying  to  and  fro,  as  all  per 
ceived  that  he  had  spoken  the  truth.  The  cor 
ner  of  the  raft  had  impinged  against  some  ice 
that  was  piled  on  the  beach.  The  gloom  was 
too  deep  for  any  one  to  see  more  than  a  few 


104  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

rods,  so  that  Tim,  who  had  traversed  the  sheet 
of  water  before,  was  unable  to  guess  where 
they  were. 

"  Provided  we've  come  over  a  straight 
coorse,"  said  the  Irishman,  "  we  can't  be  far 
from  the  f ut  of  the  lake. ' ' 

"  We'll  know  in  the  morning,  which  can't 
be  far  off,"  replied  Jeff  ;  "  we'll  make  our 
selves  as  comfortable  as  we  can  until  then." 

Despite  the  wind,  they  managed  to  light 
several  matches  and  examine  their  watches. 
To  their  surprise,  the  night  was  nearly  gone, 
and  it  was  decided  not  to  attempt  to  put  up 
their  tent  until  daylight.  Accordingly,  they 
huddled  together  and  spent  the  remaining  hour 
of  gloom  in  anything  but  comfort. 

At  the  earliest  streakings  of  light  all  were 
astir.  Springing  from  the  ground,  Tim  McCabe 
hurriedly  walked  a  short  way  to  the  north 
ward.  The  others  had  risen  to  their  feet  and 
were  watching  him.  As  the  gray  light  rapidly 
overspread  the  scene,  they  saw  the  lake,  still 
tossing  with  whitecaps,  stretching  to  the  south 
and  west,  with  the  shore  faintly  visible.  On 
the  east,  north,  south,  and  west  towered  the 
snow-capped  mountains,  with  Mount  Lotne  and 


WE'RE  AT  THE  PUT  OK  THE  LAKE,     SHOUTED  TIM. 


INTO  BRITISH  TERRITORY.  107 

other  peaks  piercing  the  very  clouds.  The  sun 
was  still  hidden,  with  the  air  damp,  cold,  and 
penetrating. 

Tim  McCabe  was  seen  to  stand  motionless 
for  some  minutes,  when  he  slowly  turned  about 
on  his  heels  and  attentively  studied  the  land 
marks.  Then  he  suddenly  flung  his  cap  high 
in  air,  and,  catching  it  as  it  came  down,  began 
dancing  a  jig  with  furious  vigor.  lie  acted  as 
if  he  had  bidden  good-by  to  his  senses. 

"  Whoop  !  hurrah  !"  he  shouted,  as  he  re 
placed  his  cap  and  hurried  to  his  friends. 
"  We're  at  the  fut  of  the  lake  !" 

Such  was  the  fact.  A  steamer  guided  by 
pilot  and  compass  could  not  have  come  more 
directly  to  the  termination  of  the  sheet  of 
water.  Tim  had  cause  for  rejoicing,  and  all 
congratulated  themselves  upon  their  good  for 
tune. 

"  There's  only  one  bad  thing  about  the 
same,"  he  added  more  seriously. 

"  What's  that  >"  asked  Jeff. 

"  We're  no  longer  in  the  United  States." 

"  That's  the  fact,"  said  Hardman,  "we're 
in  British  Columbia." 

After  all,   this  was  a   small   matter.     Inas- 


108  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

much  as  the  signs  indicated  a  severe  storm,  it 
was  decided  to  stay  where  they  were  until  its 
chief  fury  was  spent.  The  snow  was  shovelled 
aside  to  allow  them  to  reach  the  frozen  earth, 
into  which  the  stakes  were  securely  driven, 
and  the  tent  set  up,  with  the  stove  in  position. 

Beyond  Chilkoot  Pass  plenty  of  timber  is 
to  be  found,  consisting  of  pine,  spruce,  cot 
ton  wood,  and  birch.  Thus  far  not  the  first 
sign  of  game  had  been  seen.  The  whole  coun 
try,  after  leaving  Dyea,  is  mountainous. 

Most  of  the  goods  were  left  on  the  raft, 
where  they  were  protected  by  the  rubber  sheath 
ing  and  the  secure  manner  in  which  they  were 
packed  and  bound. 

Three  dreary  days  of  waiting  followed,  and  the 
hours  became  so  monotonous  at  times,  especially 
after  the  hard,  active  toil  that  had  preceded 
them,  that  in  some  respects  it  was  the  most  try 
ing  period  of  the  memorable  journey  of  our 
friends  from  Dyea  to  Dawson  City.  The  men 
found  consolation  in  their  pipes,  which  fre 
quently  made  the  air  within  the  tent  intolerable 
to  the  youngsters.  Like  most  smokers,  how 
ever,  the  men  never  suspected  the  annoyance 
they  caused,  and  the  boys  were  too  considerate 


INTO  BRITISH  TERRITORY.  109 

to  hint  anything  of  the  kind.  When  their 
young  limbs  yearned  for  exercise,  they  bolted 
out  of  doors,  in  the  face  of  the  driving  sleet  and 
fine  snow  which  cut  the  face  like  bird-shot. 
Locking  arms,  they  wrestled  and  rolled  and 
tumbled  in  the  snow,  washed  each  other's 
faces,  flung  the  snow  about— for  it  was  too  dry 
to  admit  of  being  wrought  into  balls — and 
when  tired  out,  they  came  back  panting  and 
with  red  cheeks,  showing  that  their  lungs  had 
been  filled  with  the  life-giving  ozone. 

It  was  necessary  now  and  then  to  cut  fuel 
from  the  adjacent  wood,  and  this  was  done  by 
Tim  and  Jeff.  The  boys  asked  to  be  allowed 
to  try  their  hand,  but  they  were  too  unskilful 
in  wielding  an  axe,  and  their  request  was  de 
nied.  Now  and  then  the  howling  gale  drove 
the  smoke  back  into  the  tent,  where  it  was 
almost  as  bad  as  the  odor  from  the  pipes. 

The  four  slept  at  intervals  through  the  day 
and  most  of  the  long  night  ;  but  now  and  then 
the  men  laid  aside  their  pipes,  the  stove 
"  drew,"  and  the  atmosphere  within  was  agree 
able.  The  only  books  in  the  company  were  the 
two  pocket  Bibles  furnished  by  the  mothers  of 
Roswell  and  Frank.  Neither  boy  forgot  his 


110  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

promise  to  read  the  volume  whenever  suitable 
opportunity  presented.  Seeing  Frank  reclining 
on  his  blanket,  with  his  little  Bible  in  hand, 
Jeff  asked  him  to  read  it  aloud,  and  the  boy 
gladly  complied.  It  was  a  striking  sight,  as 
the  men  inclined  their  heads  and  reverently 
listened  to  the  impressive  words  from  the  Book 
of  Life.  There  was  no  jesting  or  badinage,  for 
that  chord  which  the  Creator  has  placed  in 
every  human  heart  was  touched,  and  responded 
with  sweet  music.  Many  an  hour  was  thus 
passed — let  us  hope  with  profit  to  every  one  of 
the  little  party. 

Finally  the  longed-for  lull  in  the  storm  came, 
and  the  voyage  was  renewed.  The  trip  through 
Caribou  Crossing  was  made  without  mishap, 
the  distance  being  about  four  miles,  when  they 
entered  Marsh  Lake,  often  known  as  Mud  Lake, 
though  no  apparent  cause  exists  for  the  title. 
No  difficulty  was  experienced  in  making  their 
wa,y  for  the  twenty-four  miles  of  its  length,  at  the 
end  of  which  they  debouched  into  Lynx  Eiver, 
where  twenty-seven  more  miles  were  passed 
without  incident  or  trouble  worth  recording. 


CHAPTER   X. 

AT    WHITE    HORSE    RAPIDS. 

"  WE'RE  doing  well,"  observed  Tim  McCabe, 
when  the  raft  with  its  load  and  party  of  gold- 
seekers  reached  the  end  of  Lynx  River,  "  but 
be  the  same  token,  we're  drawing  nigh  the 
worst  part  of  the  voyage,  and  we'll  be  lucky  if 
\ve  git  through  the  same  without  mishap." 

"  What  have  we  ahead  ?"  asked  Jeff. 

"  Miles  Canon  ;  it's  a  little  more  than  half 
a  mile  long,  and  if  this  raft  isn't  as  strong  as  it 
should  be  it'll  be  torn  to  pieces." 

Fortunately  Jeff  had  given  attention  from 
the  first  to  the  stability  of  the  structure,  upon 
which  everything  depended.  He  was  continu 
ally  examining  it  from  stem  to  stern,  and 
where  there  was  a  suspicion  of  the  necessity, 
he  drove  nails  and  strengthened  the  craft  in 
every  way  possible. 

The  sail  was  used  whenever  possible  ;  but 
since  they  were  really  among  the  network  of 


112  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

lakes  which  form  the  headwaters  of  the  Yukon, 
the  current  carried  them  steadily  toward  their 
destination,  and  there  were  hours  when  they 
scarcely  lifted  their  hands  except  to  keep  the 
raft  in  proper  position  by  means  of  the  poles. 
The  weather  grew  steadily  milder,  for  summer 
was  approaching.  The  snow  and  ice  rapidly 
melted,  and  now  and  then,  when  the  sun  shone, 
the  thick  clothing  felt  uncomfortable  during 
the  middle  of  the  day.  Our  friends  were  in 
advance  of  the  great  multitude  that  were  push 
ing  toward  the  Klondike  from  the  south,  from 
Canada  and  to  St.  Michael's,  whence  they 
would  start  on  the  two-thousand-mile  climb  of 
the  Yukon,  as  soon  as  it  shook  off  its  icy 
bounds. 

It  was  impossible  that  the  party  should  not 
view  with  solicitude  their  entrance  into  Miles 
Cafion,  though  Tim  assured  his  friends  that 
much  more  dangerous  rapids  would  remain  to 
be  passed.  The  cafion  is  five-eighths  of  a  mile 
long,  with  an  angry  and  swift  current.  Al 
though  the  raft  was  tossed  about  like  a  cockle 
shell,  it  went  through  without  injury,  and  none 
of  the  goods  were  displaced  or  harmed. 

Following  this  came   the  severest  kind   of 


THE   CURRENT    WAS    NOT    ONLY    VERY    SWIFT,  BUT  THE   CHAN 
NEL    WAS    FILLED    WITH    ROCKS. 


AT  WHITE  HORSE  RAPIDS.  115 

work.  For  three  miles  it  seemed  as  if  the  river 
could  be  no  worse,  and  the  raft  must  be  wrenched 
asunder.  The  current  was  not  only  very  swift, 
but  the  channel  was  tilled  with  rocks.  Each 
man  grasped  one  of  the  strong  poles  with  which 
the  craft  was  provided,  and  wrought  with 
might  and  main  to  steer  clear  of  the  treacherous 
masses  of  stone  which  thrust  up  their  heads 
everywhere.  There  were  many  narrow  es 
capes,  and  despite  the  utmost  they  could  do, 
the  raft  struck  repeatedly.  Sometimes  it  was  a 
bump  and  sheer  to  one  side  so  suddenly  that 
the  party  were  almost  knocked  off  their  feet. 
Once,  owing  to  unintentional  contrary  work 
the  raft  banged  against  the  head  of  a  rock  and 
stood  still.  While  the  men  were  desperately 
plying  their  poles  the  current  slewed  the  craft 
around,  and  the  voyage  was  resumed. 

"Look  out!"  shouted  Jeff;  "  there's  an 
other  rock  right  ahead  !" 

Unfortunately  it  was  just  below  the  surface, 
and  there  were  so  many  ripples  and  eddies  in 
the  current  that  neither  Tim  nor  Hardman  was 
sure  of  its  exact  location,  but  taking  their  cue 
from  the  leader,  they  pushed  with  all  their 
strength  to  clear  the  obstruction. 


116  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

They  failed,  and  the  flinty  head  swept  direct 
ly  under  the  logs  and  gouged  its  course  for  the 
entire  length  of  the  craft.  All  felt  the  jar,  and 
those  who  could  look  beneath  the  upper  deck 
saw  the  lower  timbers  rise  from  the  impact, 
which  was  so  severe  that  when  the  raft  at  last 
swung  free  it  was  barely  moving,  but,  like  a 
wounded  horse,  it  shook  itself  clear,  and  the 
next  moment  was  plunging  forward  as  impetu 
ously  as  ever.  The  fears  of  the  party  were 
intensified  by  sight  of  wreckage  along  the 
banks,  proving  that  more  than  one  of  their 
predecessors  had  come  to  grief  in  trying  to 
make  the  passage. 

While  all  were  on  edge  with  the  danger, 
however,  they  found  themselves  at  the  end  of 
the  perilous  passage  and  floating  in  compara 
tively  smooth  water  again.  Men  and  boys 
drew  sighs  of  relief,  the  former  mopping  their 
perspiring  brows  and  looking  their  mutual  con 
gratulations. 

"  The  fun  is  only  just  begun,"  said  Tim 
McCabe  ;  "  we  had  matters  purty  lively  fur  a 
time,  but  they'll  soon  be  a  good  deal  livelier." 

"  What  is  next  due  ?"  asked  Frank. 

"I   belave,"   said   Tim,    "  that  some  folks 


AT  WHITE  HORSE  RAPIDS.  117 

spake  of  death  as  riding  on  a  pale  horse,  don't 
they  ?" 

"  Yes." 

"  That  must  be  the  raison  they  call  the  nixt 
plisure  thramp  White  Horse  Canon,  or  White 
Horse  Rapids/1 

"Where  are  they?" 

"  But  a  little  way  ahid  ;  many  men  have 
been  drowned  in  tlirying  to  sail  through  the 
same  ;  and  him  as  doesn't  know  how  to  swim 
in  a  whirlpool  hasn't  ony  business  to  thry 
it." 

"  What,  then,  do  you  mean  to  do  ?" 

"  Thry  it,"  was  the  imperturbable  response. 

Such  talk  was  not  calculated  to  cheer  the 
listeners,  but  knowing  the  Irishman  as  they  did, 
they  received  his  statement  with  less  serious 
ness  than  they  should  have  done,  for  he  had 
by  no  means  overrated  the  peril  in  their  front. 
Jeff  made  another  examination  of  the  raft  while 
he  had  the  opportunity,  and  strengthened  it  in 
every  possible  way.  He  was  pleased  that  it 
stood  the  test  so  well,  though  it  had  been  se 
verely  wrenched,  and  when  it  crawled  over  the 
sunken  rock  it  had  narrowly  missed  being  torn 
asunder.  The  fastenings  of  the  goods  were  ex- 


118  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

amined  and  everything  prepared,  so  far  as  it 
could  be  done,  for  the  crucial  trial  at  hand. 

The  party  were  seated  in  various  positions 
about  the  raft,  looking  anxiously  ahead,  when 
Tim  pointed  a  little  way  in  advance,  with  the 
question  : 

"  Do  ye  all  obsarve  that  ?" 

He  indicated  a  high  bank  of  sand  on  the 
right  which  had  been  cut  out  by  the  erosion  of 
the  violent  current.  Near  by  some  philanthro 
pist  had  put  up  a  sign,  "  Keep  a  Good  Look 
Out." 

"  You  have  larned  what  other  people  think 
of  the  same,"  he  added  ;  "  there's  been  more 
than  twinty  men  drowned  in  there." 

"  Because  they  could  not  swim  ?"  asked 
Frank. 

"  'Cause  the  best  swimmer  in  the  world  can't 
swim  in  there  ;  you  and  mesilf,  boys,  will  soon 
be  on  the  same  futting,  for  the  raison  that  we 
won't  have  any  futting  at  all." 

"  How  long  is  the  canon  ?" 

"  Not  quite  half  a  mile.  Miles  Canon,  that 
we've  just  passed  through,  is  like  a  duck-pond 
alongside  the  rapids  in  front  of  us. ' ' 

"  Can  a  boat  go  through  ?" 


AT   WHITE  HORSE  RAPIDS.  119 

"  The  thing  has  been  done,  but  only  about 
one  in  fifty  that  starts  into  them  rapids  ever 
raiches  the  outlet,  excipt  in  bits  the  size  of  yer 
hand." 

Frank  and  Roswell  looked  at  each  other  in 
consternation.  Was  it  possible  that  Jeff  would 
alloAv  the  criminal  recklessness  Tim  contem 
plated  ?  Where  the  chances  were  so  over 
whelmingly  against  success,  it  was  throwing 
away  their  lives  to  trust  themselves  to  the  fear 
ful  rapids  that  had  already  caused  so  many 
deaths. 

"  If  you  Avant  to  try,"  said  Koswell,  excit 
edly,  "  you  may  do  so,  but  neither  Frank  nor 
I  will.  Put  us  ashore  !" 

lie  addressed  himself  to  Jeff,  who  was  seat 
ed  on  the  edge  of  the  upper  deck,  calmly  smok 
ing  his  pipe.  He  did  not  look  around  nor  seem 
to  hear  the  appeal. 

u  Never  mind,"  interposed  Frank  ;  "  if  they 
are  willing,  we  are  not  the  ones  to  back  out. 
I  know  of  no  law  that  prevents  a  man  making 
a  fool  of  himself." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  his  cousin,  more  com 
posedly,  "  I  am  ready." 


CHAPTER   XI. 

ON      THE      YUKON. 

JEFF  GRAHAM  looked  inquiringly  at  Tim 
McCabe,  who  nodded  his  head  by  way  of  reply. 
At  the  same  time  he  said  something  to  Hard- 
man,  and  all  three  rose  to  their  feet.  Then 
the  poles  were  plied  with  an  effect  that  speed 
ily  drove  the  raft  against  the  bank,  where  Tim 
sprang  ashore  and  secured  it.  Brave  and  reck 
less  as  was  the  fellow,  he  had  no  intention 
of  trying  to  take  the  boat  through  the  exceed 
ingly  dangerous  White  Horse  Rapids,  but  he 
could  not  refuse  the  chance  for  a  little  amuse 
ment  at  the  expense  of  his  young  friends. 

In  truth,  no  one  should  ever  attempt  to  take 
a  boat  through  White  Horse  Rapids.  The 
best  course,  perhaps,  is  to  let  it  drift  down  the 
rapids,  guided  by  a  rope  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  in  length.  If  it  passes  through  without 
material  injury,  the  craft  is  still  at  command 
below.  Another  plan  is  to  portage.  At  this 


ON  THE   YUKON.  121 

writing  there  are  roller-ways  on  the  western 
side,  over  which  the  boats  can  be  roiled  with 
a  windlass  to  help  pull  them  to  the  top  of  the 
hill.  In  lining  a  craft,  it  must  be  done  on  the 
right-hand  side.  Three  miles  farther  down  comes 
the  Box  Canon,  one  hundred  yards  in  length 
and  fifty  feet  wide,  with  a  chute  of  terrific 
velocity.  Repeated  attempts  have  been  made 
by  reckless  miners  to  take  a  boat  through,  but 
it  is  much  the  same  as  trying  to  shoot  the  rapids 
below  Xiagara,  and  the  place  has  well  earned 
its  title  of  "The  Miners'  Grave."  Still,  the 
feat  has  been  performed  in  safety. 

Progress  was  so  effectually  barred  at  White 
Horse  that  our  friends  gave  up  their  raft  as  of 
no  further  use.  It  was  certain  to  be  shattered, 
and  where  there  was  so  much  timber  it  was 
comparatively  easy  to  build  another,  with 
which  to  make  the  remaining  t\vo  hundred  and 
twenty  miles,  particularly  as  there  was  no  need 
of  constructing  a  double-decker,  for  the  rough 
voyaging  was  at  an  end. 

The  goods  were,  therefore,  packed  upon  the 
Yukon  sleds,  and  then  the  raft  set  adrift.  It 
was  never  seen  again,  though  an  occasional 
stray  log  afterward  observed  bobbing  in  the 


122  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

current  below  the  rapids  may  have  formed  a 
part  of  the  structure  that  had  served  the  travel 
lers  so  well.  There  was  enough  snow  for  the 
sleds,  but  the  work  was  exhausting,  and  was 
not  completed  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when 
the  tent  was  set  up  and  camp  made. 

By  the  close  of  the  following  day  the  raft 
was  finished.  It  contained  enough  pine  lumber 
to  float  a  much  heavier  load  than  formed  its 
burden,  but,  as  we  have  stated,  it  lacked  the 
double  deck,  since  the  necessity  for  one  no 
longer  existed. 

The  raft  was  no  more  than  fairly  completed 
when  a  storm  that  had  been  threatening  broke 
upon  the  party.  Since  it  was  expected,  and 
there  was  no  saying  how  long  it  would  last,  the 
tent  was  set  up  and  secured  in  place.  Con 
siderable  fuel  had  been  gathered,  and  every 
preparation  was  made  for  a  prolonged  stay, 
though  it  need  not  be  said  that  each  one  hoped 
it  would  prove  otherwise.  In  a  country  where 
for  four-fifths  of  the  days  the  sun  does  not  show 
itself,  such  weather  must  be  expected,  and,  on 
the  whole,  our  friends  counted  themselves  for 
tunate  that  they  had  been  able  to  make  such 
good  progress. 


ON  THE   YUKON.  123 

The  tent  was  hardly  in  position,  and  all 
within,  huddling  around  the  stove,  in  which 
Tim  had  just  started  a  fire,  when  they  were 
startled  by  a  hail  : 

"  Halloa,  the  house  !" 

The  four  hurried  outside,  where  a  striking 
sight  met  them.  Eight  men,  each  with  a  heavy 
pack  strapped  over  his  shoulders,  and  bending 
over  with  his  load,  thickly  clad,  but  with  their 
faces,  so  far  as  they  could  be  seen  through  the 
wrappings,  wet  and  red,  had  halted  in  front  of 
the  tent,  which  they  scrutinized  with  wonder. 

"  Are  you  going  to  begin  digging  here  ?" 
called  one  of  the  men,  whose  eyes,  nose,  and 
mouth  were  all  that  was  visible  behind  his 
muffler. 

' '  Not  while  the  storm  lasts, ' '  replied  Tim . 
kt  If  we  had  room,  we'd  ask  ye  to  come  inside 
and  enj'y  yoursilves  till  the  weather  clears. 
At  any  rate,  we'll  be  glad  to  give  ye  some 
thing  warm  to  ate  and  drink." 

"  Oh,  that's  it  !"  exclaimed  another  of  the 
men.  "  You're  afraid  of  the  storm,  are  you  ?" 

"  We're  not  much  afraid,  but  we  ain't  in 
love  with  the  same.  Won't  ye  come  in — that 
is,  one  or  two  at  a  time  ?" 


KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  Thanks  for  your  invitation,  but  we  haven't 
the  time  to  spare.  We're  afeared  they'll  get  all 
the  gold  in  the  Klondike  country  if  we  don't 
hurry.  You're  foolish  to  loiter  along  the  road 
like  this." 

"  We're  willing  to  lose  a  bit  of  the  goold  for 
sake  of  the  comfort.  If  ye  are  bound  to  go  on, 
we  wish  ye  good  luck. ' ' 

"  The  same  to  yourselves,"  the  plucky  and 
hopeful  miners  called  as  they  plodded  for 
ward. 

For  two  dreary  days  the  party  was  storm- 
stayed  in  camp. 

"Here,"  said  Jeff  Graham,  when  making 
ready  to  resume  their  voyage,  "  we  leave  our 
Yukon  sleds. ' ' 

"  Shall  we  not  need  them  on  our  return  ?" 
asked  Eos  well. 

' i  We  should  if  we  returned  by  this  route,  but 
I  wouldn't  work  my  way  against  these  streams 
and  through  the  passes  again  for  all  the  gold  in 
the  Klondike  country.  We  shall  take  the 
steamer  down  the  Yukon  to  St.  Michael's,  and 
so  on  to  Seattle. ' ' 

"  That  is  a  long  voyage,"  suggested  Hard- 
man. 


THE   YUKON.  125 


"Yes,    four    thousand    miles;    but   it 
be  easy   enough    for   us    when   we   are   on   a 
steamer.  '  ' 

"The  Yukon  is  closed  for  eight  months  or 
more  each  year." 

"  We  don't  intend  to  go  down  it  when  it's 
closed,  for  I  didn't  bring  skates  along,  and  I 
don't  know  how  to  skate,  anyway." 

"  You  do  not  expect  to  stay  long  in  the 
Klondike  country  ?"  was  the  inquiring  remark 
of  Hardman,  who  showed  little  interest  in  the 
intentions  of  their  leader. 

"  That  depends  ;  we  shall  come  back  in  two 
months,  or  six,  or  a  year,  according  as  to  how 
rich  we  strike  it.  '  ' 

"  S'pose  you  don't  strike  it  at  all." 

Jeff  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  We'll  make  a  good  try  for  it.  If  we  slip 
up  altogether,  these  folks  I  have  brought  with 
me  won't  be  any  worse  off  than  before  ;  but  I 
don't  intend  to  slip  up—  that  ain't  what  I  came 
into  this  part  of  the  world  for." 

4  *  No,  I  reckon  few  people  come  for  that,  '  ' 
was  the  comment  of  Ilardman,  who  seemed  to 
be  in  a  cheerful  mood  again. 

Nothing  could  have  offered  a  stronger  con- 


126  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

trast  to  their  previous  rough  experience  than 
that  which  now  came  to  them.  Fourteen  miles 
down  the  river  brought  them  to  Lake  La  barge, 
where  they  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  sit  down 
and  float  with  the  current,  using  the  poles  oc 
casionally  to  keep  the  raft  in  the  best  position. 
Thirty-one  miles  brought  them  to  Lewis  Eiver, 
down  which  they  passed  to  the  Hootalinqua ; 
then  to  the  Big  Salmon,  and  forty- five  miles 
farther  to  the  Little  Salmon,  the  current  run 
ning  five  miles  an  hour,  and  much  swifter  in 
the  narrow  canon-like  passages.  Then  beyond 
the  Little  Salmon  the  craft  and  its  hopeful  pas 
sengers  floated  smoothly  with  the  current  for  a 
distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles, 
when  the  boys  were  startled  to  see  four  giant 
buttes  of  stone  towering  above  the  water,  which 
rushed  violently  among  them. 

' '  What  place  is  that?"  asked  Frank,  who 
with  his  cousin  surveyed  the  immense  towers 
with  deep  interest. 

"  Five- Finger  Eapids,"  was  the  reply. 

' '  They  look  dangerous. ' ' 

"  So  they  be,  unless  ye  happens  to  know 
which  two  to  pass  between  ;  now,  which  would 
ye  selict  as  a  guess  ?" 


TIM    AND    JKFF    LIT    THEIR    1'IPKS  ;     HAKDMAN    SAT    APART 


ON  THE  YUKON.  129 

Roswell  and  Frank  studied  them  awhile,  and 
the  latter  answered : 

"  It  doesn't  seem  to  me  that  it  makes  much 
difference  which  one  you  take. ' ' 

"  Ah,  but  it  makes  a  mighty  difference. 
We  should  have  big  trouble  if  we  neglicted  to 
folly  the  right  side  of  the  river. ' ' 

Jeff  and  Hard  man  were  already  working  the 
raft  in  that  direction,  and  Tim  now  gave  his 
aid.  It  looked  perilous,  but,  knowing  the  right 
course,  the  craft  made  the  passage  without  any 
mishap.  All  settled  down  to  enjoy  the  smooth 
sailing  that  was  before  them  once  more.  Tim 
and  Jeff  lit  their  pipes,  Hardman  sat  apart, 
while  the  boys  were  together  near  the  front  of 
the  raft.  The  weather  was  clearer  than  it  had 
been  for  several  days,  and  much  more  mod 
erate.  May  was  well  advanced,  and  the  short, 
hot  summer  was  at  hand.  If  all  went  well, 
they  would  reach  the  gold  country  at  the 
right  season,  and  as  they  neared  the  goal  the 
spirits  of  all  rose,  and  a  longing  to  get  for 
ward  manifested  itself  in  many  ways.  They 
waited  until  night  had  fairly  come  before  they 
went  ashore  and  encamped,  and  they  were  off 
again  at  daybreak,  despite  the  uncannily  early 


130  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

hour  at  which  it  comes  in  that  part  of  the 
world. 

Six  miles  down  the  Lewis  River  took  them  to 
the  Rink  Rapids,  through  which  they  passed 
without  difficulty.  Just  beyond  are  the  ruins 
of  Fort  Selkirk,  where  the  Pelly  and  Lewis 
rivers  unite.  Tim  McCabe  studied  the  mouth 
of  the  Pelly,  as  it  poured  into  the  Lewis,  and 
soon  as  the  point  was  fairly  passed,  he  turned 
to  his  friends,  his  round  face  aglow. 

"  I  offer  me  congratulations,"  he  said,  doff 
ing  his  cap  and  bowing  IOAV. 

"  On  what  ?"  asked  Frank  Mansley. 

' '  The  stream  over  which  ye  are  now  floating 
takes  the  name  of  the  Yukon,  and  doesn't  give 
up  the  same  till  it  tumbles  into  the  Pacific 
siveral  miles  to  the  west  of  us. ' ' 

"  Several  miles  !"  repeated  Frank  ;  "it 
must  be  three  thousand." 

"  Something  like  that,  I  belave.  The  worst 
part  of  our  journey  is  behind  us." 

"  How  far  are  we  from  Juneau  ?" 

"  To  be  exact,  which  I  loikes  to  be,  it  is  five 
hundred  and  tin  miles." 


CHAPTER   XII. 

AT     DAW80N     CITY. 

NATURALLY  the  route  over  which  the  little 
party  of  gold-seekers  were  journeying  steadily 
improved.  The  Yukon,  like  many  other  great 
rivers  of  the  world,  comes  into  being  a  lusty, 
vigorous  infant,  the  junction  of  the  Lewis  and 
Pelly  making  it  a  stream  of  considerable  pro 
portions  from  the  moment  it  takes  its  name. 

Other  gold-hunters  were  seen  from  time  to 
time,  and  there  were  pleasant  exchanges  and 
greetings  with  most  of  them.  It  was  the  cus 
tom  of  Jeff  Graham  to  keep  going  so  long  as 
daylight  lasted,  when  the  raft  was  worked  into 
shore  and  an  encampment  made.  For  a  time 
the  old  miner  kept  his  Winchester  Avithin  im 
mediate  reach,  hoping  to  gain  sight  of  some 
deer  or  wild  game,  but  as  day  after  day  and 
night  after  night  passed  without  the  first 
glimpse  of  anything  of  the  kind,  he  gave  up  in 
disgust. 


132  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  It's  the  most  villainous  country  on  the  face 
of  the  earth,"  he  said,  as  he  lit  his  pipe  at  the 
evening  fire.  "  If  it  wasn't  for  the  gold  that 
we  know  is  here,  no  decent  man  would  stay 
over  night  in  it.  Frank,  tell  me  something 
about  the  confounded  country. ' ' 

"  Me  !"  replied  the  boy,  with  a  laugh.  "  I 
don't  know  half  as  much  as  you  and  Tim." 

"  Yes,  you  do.  Tim  don't  know  anything 
more  than  the  best  way  to  travel  through  the 
mountains  and  across  the  lakes. ' ' 

The  Irishman  took  his  pipe  from  between  his 
lips  to  offer  protest  against  this  slur,  but 
changed  his  mind,  and  resumed  smoking,  though 
his  eyes  twinkled. 

"  A  man  that  takes  a  lot  of  gold  out  of  the 
ground  and  then  lets  a  thief  steal  it  isn't  fit  to 
go  alone. ' ' 

"  Which  is  why  I've  provided  mesilf  with  a 
chap  that  knows  it  all,"  said  Tim,  not  the  least 
offended,  though  Hardman  scowled,  for  the  re 
mark  was  a  pointed  reflection  upon  him  ;  but 
he  held  his  peace. 

"What  about  the  Injins  here?"  pursued 
Jeff,  addressing  the  boys  ;  "they're  different 
from  ours  in  Calif orny. ' ' 


AT  DAWSON  CITY.  133 

Frank  had  no  wish  to  air  his  knowledge,  but 
he  replied  : 

"  I  have  read  that  the  natives  belong  to  the 
red  and  yellow  races— that  is,  the  Indian  and 
Mongolian.  There  are  two  stocks  of  Indians— 
the  Thlinkets  and  the  Tenneh.  There  are  only 
a  few  Thlinkets,  and  they  live  along  the  coast. 
That  old  Indian  who  ferried  us  over  Lake  Lin- 
deman  is  a  Tenneh,  as  are  the  natives  of  the 
interior.  You  may  not  think  they  are  much 
like  our  Indians,  but  they  belong  to  the  Chippe- 
wayan  family,  the  same  as  the  Apaches,  who 
have  caused  so  much  trouble  in  Mexico  and 
Arizona. ' ' 

u  That  has  been  my  'pinion,"  said  Tim,  who 
now  heard  the  fact  for  the  first  time  ;  "  and  the 
raison  why  the  Alaska  redskins  ain't  as  bad  as 
the  Apaches  is  'cause  the  weather  is  so  cold  it 
freezes  up  all  the  diviltry  in  them." 

"  Roswell,"  continued  Jeff,  who  was  proud 
to  show  off  the  learning  of  his  young  friends, 
"  why  do  they  call  the  Eskimos  that  name  ?" 

'  *  The  name,  which  means  those  who  eat  raw 
flesh,  was  given  to  them  by  the  Indians. 
They  call  themselves  Aleuts,  or  Innuits.  The 
Innuits  are  the  same  as  the  Eskimos  of  Green- 


134  KLONDIKE  M'GGKTS. 

land  and  the  Arctic  regions,  while  the  Aleuts 
belong  to  Alaska,  the  long,  narrow  peninsula 
which  extends  southwesterly  from  the  mainland 
and  the  Aleutian  Islands,  that  look  like' a  con 
tinuation  of  the  peninsula.  As  for  the  climate, 
temperature,  and  size  of  Alaska,  you  and  Tim 
know  as  much  as  we  do,"  said  Roswell,  who 
disliked  as  much  as  his  cousin  to  seem  to  display 
his  knowledge. 

"  Why  not  be  modest,"  gravely  asked  Tim, 
"  and  say  that  ye  knows  almost  as  much  as  Mr. 
McCabe,  leaving  Mr.  Graham  out  of  the  quis- 
tion,  be  the  token  that  he  knows  nothing  at  all, 
and  I'm  afeard  will  niver  larn  ?" 

"As  you  please,"  replied  Roswell;  "  you 
and  Jeff  may  settle  that  between  you." 

"  And  ther's  nothing  to  sittle,  as  me  mither 
used  to  obsarve  whin  she  looked  into  the  impty 
coffee-pot  ;  Jiff  won't  pretind  that  he  knows 
anything  of  this  country  so  long  as  he  is  in  the 
prisence  of  mesilf . ' ' 

"  Very  true,"  gravely  replied  the  old  miner  ; 
"but  if  I  do  scoop  in  any  gold,  I  think  I'll 
know  'nough  to  shoot  any  man  that  tries  to 
steal  it." 

As  he  spoke  he  darted  a  glance  at  Hardman, 


AT  DAWSON  CITY.  135 

who  was  sitting  a  little  back  from  the  fire,  also 
smoking,  but  glum  and  silent.  The  boys  won 
dered  why  Jeff  should  make  these  pointed  ref 
erences,  when  he  had  never  hinted  anything  of 
the  kind  before,  but  the  old  miner  had  a  pur 
pose  in  mind.  While  not  seeming  to  pay  any 
special  attention  to  Hardman,  he  had  studied 
him  closely  for  the  past  few  days,  and  felt  lit 
tle  doubt  that  he  was  planning  mischief.  The 
words,  therefore,  that  Jeff  uttered  were  meant 
as  a  warning  to  the  rogue  of  what  he  might 
expect  if  he  attempted  any  crooked  work. 

No  further  reference  was  made  to  the  un 
pleasant  subject,  although  Jeff  and  Tim  chaffed 
each  other  for  a  long  time,  even  after  the  boys 
had  wrapped  themselves  in  their  blankets  and 
lain  down  to  sleep.  No  watch  was  set,  as 
would  have  been  the  case  had  they  been  jour 
neying  through  a  wild  part  of  their  own  coun 
try,  for  there  was  nothing  to  be  feared  from 
wild  animals  or  Indians.  The  only  being 
whom  Jeff  and  the  boys  distrusted  was  a  mem 
ber  of  their  own  company,  and  they  did  not  be 
lieve  he  would  do  anything  wrong  until  after 
the  party  had  secured  something  worth  the  risk 
on  his  part. 


136  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

Deprived  of  many  of  the  comforts  of  home 
and  a  mother's  care,  it  did  not  take  the  boys 
long,  under  the  tutelage  of  the  older  ones,  to 
attend  to  their  own  wants.  Roswell  and  Frank 
soon  learned  how  to  sew  on  a  button  and  do 
the  mending  which  their  garments  occasionally 
required.  They  washed  their  clothing  and  kept 
themselves  in  better  form  than  do  many  men 
when  placed  in  a  similar  situation. 

With  the  weather  growing  more  summery 
and  hardly  a  bit  of  ice  in  the  river,  the  raft 
glided  down  the  Upper  Yukon.  Ninety -eight 
miles  from  the  head  of  the  Yukon,  the  craft 
passed  the  mouth  of  the  Milk  River,  and  in 
this  case  the  party  saw  the  appropriateness  of 
the  name,  for  its  water  has  a  perceptible  whitish 
color. 

A  goodly  distance  remained  to  be  passed,  for 
it  was  ten  miles  to  Stewart  River,  and  twenty- 
five  more  to  Fort  Ogilvie,  where  they  spent  the 
night.  They  were  now  nearing  their  journey's 
end,  and  all  showed  a  peculiar  agitation,  such 
as  is  natural  when  we  feel  ourselves  close  upon 
the  solution  of  a  problem  that  has  baffled  us  for 
a  long  time. 

One  form  of  this  emotion  was  the  impatience 


AND    THE   THREE    CHEERS    WERE    GIVEN    WITH    A    WILL. 


AT  DAWSON  CITY.  139 

to  get  forward  faster  than  before.  There  was 
nothing  of  the  feeling  when  leaving  Seattle  or 
Juneau  or  Dyea,  nor  did  they  experience  it  to 
any  degree  while  toiling  through  the  hundreds 
of  miles  from  lake  to  lake  and  down  the  upper 
waters  of  the  streams  which  help  to  form  the 
Yukon. 

Koswell  and  Frank  were  grateful  for  one 
blessed  fact — they  were  stronger  and  in  more 
rugged  health  than  ever  in  their  lives.  When 
making  their  way  through  the  passes  and  help 
ing  to  drag  the  sleds,  they  felt  more  than  once 
like  giving  up  and  turning  back,  though  neither 
would  have  confessed  it  ;  but  now  they  were 
hopeful,  buoyant,  and  eager.  They  had  sent 
the  last  letter  which  they  expected  to  write 
home  for  a  long  time  upon  leaving  Dyea, 
where  they  bade  good-by  to  civilization. 

The  afternoon  was  young  when  the  raft  drift 
ed  into  a  portion  of  the  Yukon  which  expand 
ed  into  a  width  of  two  miles,  where  it  was 
joined  by  another  large  stream.  On  the  east 
ern  shore  loomed  a  straggling  town  of  consid 
erable  proportions. 

"Tim,"  said  Frank,  suspecting  the  truth, 
"  what  place  is  that  ?" 


140  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  Frinds,"  replied  Tim,  vainly  trying  to 
conceal  his  agitation,  "that  town  is  Dawson 
City,  and  the  river  flowing  into  ours  is  the 
Klondike.  Ye  have  raiched  the  goold  counthry, 
which,  being  the  same,  I  rispictfully  asks  ye  all 
to  jine  mesilf  in  letting  out  a  hurrah  which  will 
make  the  town  trimble  and  the  payple  open 
their  eyes  so  wide  that  they  won't  git  them 
shet  agin  for  a  wake  to  come.  Are  ye  riddy  ? 
Altogither  !" 

And  the  cheers  were  given  with  a  will. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ON   THE    EDGE    OF   THE    GOLD-FIELDS. 

THE  little  party  of  gold-seekers  had  every 
cause  to  congratulate  themselves,  for  after  a 
journey  of  nearly  two  thousand  miles  from  Seat 
tle,  through  wild  passes,  dangerous  rapids  and 
canons,  over  precipitous  mountains,  amid  storm 
and  tempests,  with  their  lives  many  a  time  in 
peril,  half  frozen  and  exhausted  by  the  most 
wearisome  toil,  they  had  arrived  at  Dawson 
City,  in  the  midst  of  the  wonderful  gold  district 
of  the  Northwest,  all  without  mishap  and  in 
better  condition  than  when  they  left  home. 

The  boys,  in  roughing  it,  had  breathed  the 
invigorating  ozone  and  gained  in  rugged  health 
and  strength.  Youth  and  buoyant  spirits  were 
on  their  side,  and  their  muscles,  which  would 
have  become  flabby  in  the  unwholesome  atmos 
phere  of  a  store,  were  hardened,  and  their  en 
durance  and  capacity  for  trying  work  immeas 
urably  increased.  There  are  thousands  of  men 


142  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

to-day  enjoying  life,  without  an  ache  or  pain, 
who  owe  their  splendid  condition  to  the  cam 
paigning  they  underwent  in  the  war  for  the 
Union.  If  that  terrific  struggle  swept  multi 
tudes  into  their  graves,  it  brought  the  balm  of 
strength  and  health  to  many  more,  who  other 
wise  would  not  have  lived  out  half  their  days. 

The  trying  experience  of  Jeff  Graham  in  his 
youth  and  early  manhood  did  this  service  for  him. 
It  was  not  strange,  therefore,  that  he  with  his 
iron  muscles  bore  the  strain  better  than  any  of 
his  companions.  He  seemed  to  be  tireless,  and 
his  sturdy  strength  often  put  others  to  shame. 
He  had  never  sapped  his  constitution  by  dissi 
pation  ;  and  it  may  be  said  that  the  severe  hard 
ships  of  that  journey  from  Dyea  through  Chil- 
koot  Pass  and  the  wild  regions  about  the  Upper 
Yukon  confirmed  that  which  already  existed 
within  his  splendid  make-up.  As  for  Koswell 
Palmer  and  Frank  Mansley,  their  excellent 
home  training,  not  denying  credit  to  the  grim 
old  miner  for  his  wise  counsel,  had  held  them 
free  from  the  bad  habits  which  too  often  make 
boys  effeminate  and  weak  and  old  before  their 
time.  Gifted  by  nature  with  the  best  of  con 
stitutions,  they  had  strengthened  rather  than 


ON  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  GOLD-FIELDS.    143 

undermined  them.  Neither  had  known  an 
hour's  illness  throughout  the  long,  laborious 
journey,  and  they  were  in  the  best  condition 
possible  for  the  great  task  that  now  confronted 
them. 

As  for  Tim  McCabe  and  Ike  Hardman,  their 
weakness  lay  in  yielding  to  the  temptation  to 
drink.  No  such  temptation  appeared  on  the 
road,  and  their  enforced  temperance  had  the 
best  effect.  Tim  was  less  disposed  to  drink  than 
the  other,  but,  sad  to  say,  he  indulged  at  times. 
Hardman's  ideal  was  to  obtain  the  means  for 
doing  nothing  and  minister  to  his  base  appetites. 

It  was  in  1887  that  Dr.  George  M.  Dawson, 
the  leader  of  an  exploring  expedition  sent  by 
the  Canadian  Government  into  the  Yukon  dis 
trict,  made  a  report  confirming  the  presence  of 
gold  in  vast  quantities  throughout  that  section. 
The  principal  mining  camp  established  there 
was  named  in  his  honor.  It  faces  on  one  of 
the  banks  of  the  Yukon  River,  along  which  it 
extends  for  about  a  mile.  It  has  a  sawmill, 
stores,  and  churches  of  the  Baptist,  Presbyterian, 
Methodist,  and  Roman  Catholic  denominations. 
Being  the  headquarters  of  the  Canadian  North 
west  mounted  police,  it  is  one  of  the  best- 


144  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

governed  towns  on  the  American  continent.  At 
the  time  of  our  friends'  arrival  its  population  was 
about  four  thousand,  but  the  rush  will  swell  it 
in  an  incredibly  short  while  to  ten,  twenty,  and 
possibly  fifty  times  that  number,  for  beyond 
question  it  is  the  centre  of  the  most  marvellous 
gold  district  that  the  world  has  ever  known. 

Copper,  silver,  and  coal  are  found  in  large 
quantities,  but  no  one  gives  them  a  thought 
when  so  much  of  the  vastly  more  attractive 
yellow  metal  is  within  reach.  It  is  singular 
that  while  the  existence  of  gold  was  incontes- 
tably  known  for  many  years,  little  or  no  excite 
ment  was  produced  until  1896  and  1897,  when 
the  whole  civilized  world  was  turned  almost 
topsy-turvy  by  the  bewildering  reports.  Dur 
ing  the  first  three  months  of  the  latter  year 
more  than  four  million  dollars  were  taken  from 
a  space  of  forty  square  miles,  where  a  few 
placer  claims  were  worked.  What  harvest  will 
be  during  the  next  few  years  no  man  dare  at 
tempt  to  guess.  How  suggestive  the  fact  that 
on  one  stream  so  much  of  the  metal  has  been 
found  that  it  was  given  the  name  "  Too  Much 
Gold  Creek  !" 

Inasmuch  as  our  friends  are   now  on  the 


ON  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  GOLD-FIELDS.     145 

ground,  a  few  more  facts  are  proper,  in  order 
to  understand  the  task  that  confronted  them. 
Dawson  City,  it  will  be  remembered,  is  in  Brit 
ish  territory,  and  all  the  great*  discoveries  of 
gold  have  been  made  to  the  east  of  that  town. 
Doubtless  gold  will  be  gathered  in  Alaska 
itself,  but  the  probabilities  are  that  the  richest 
deposits  are  upon  Canadian  soil. 

The  mining  claims  begin  within  two  and  a 
half  miles  of  Dawson  City,  on  the  Klondike, 
and  follow  both  sides  of  that  stream  into  the 
interior,  taking  in  its  tributaries  like  Hunker's 
Creek,  Gold  Bottom,  Last  Chance,  Bear  Creek, 
Bould's  Bonanza,  and  El  Dorado.  Of  these  the 
richest  are  El  Dorado,  Gold  Bottom,  Hunker,  and 
the  oddly  named  Too  Much  Gold  Creek.  The  last 
is  the  farthest  from  Dawson  City,  and  the  least 
known  ;  but  there  can  be  no  question  that  nu 
merous  other  streams,  at  present  unvisited,  are 
equally  rich,  and  will  be  speedily  developed. 

Just  now  placer  mining  is  the  only  method 
employed.  According  to  the  mining  laws  of 
the  Northwest,  the  words  "mine,"  "placer 
mine,"  and  "  diggings"  mean  the  same  thing, 
and  refer  to  any  natural  stratum  or  bed  of 
earth,  gravel,  or  cement  mined  for  gold  or  other 


146  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

precious  mineral.  There  is  very  little  quartz 
mining,  or  crushing  of  rocks,  as  is  practised  in 
many  sections  of  California.  This  requires  ex 
pensive  machinery,  and  little  necessity  for  it 
seems  to  exist  in  the  Klondike.  In  placer  min 
ing  the  pay  dirt  is  washed  by  the  simplest 
methods,  such  as  were  practised  in  California 
during  the  pioneer  days. 

Everything  was  hurry  and  bustle  at  Dawson 
City  on  that  day,  late  in  May,  when  our  friends 
arrived.  It  was  a  noticeable  fact  that  the  date 
of  their  arrival  was  exactly  two  months  after 
the  boys  kissed  their  parents  good-by  in  San 
Francisco. 

Tim  McCabe  had  gathered  much  practical 
knowledge  during  his  experience  in  this  region, 
while  Jeff  had  not  forgotten  what  he  passed 
through  "in  the  days  of  '49,"  to  which  wis 
dom  he  had  added,  as  opportunity  presented, 
while  on  the  way  to  the  Klondike.  When  the 
party  had  eaten  together  at  the  principal  hotel 
and  the  men  had  lit  their  pipes  in  a  group  by 
themselves,  a  surprise  came.  The  old  miner 
smoked  a  minute  or  two  in  silence,  and  then 
turned  to  Hardman,  who  was  sitting  a  little 
apart,  moody  and  reserved. 


ON  THE  EDGE  OF  THE  GOLD-FIELDS.     149 

"  Ike,"  said  he,  "  I've  stood  by  you  all  the 
way  from  Juneau,  hain't  I  ?" 

The  fellow  looked  wonderingly  at  him,  as  did 
the  others,  none  suspecting  what  was  coming. 

"  In  course,"  was  the  gruff  reply  of  Hard- 
man  ;  "  we  all  stood  by  one  another,  fur  if  we 
hadn't  we  wouldn't  stood  at  all." 

"  You've  got  to  Dawson  City  without  it  cost 
ing  you  a  penny,  haven't  you  ?" 

"  There  hain't  been  much  chance  to  spend 
money  since  we  left  Dyea,"  replied  Hardman 
with  a  grin. 

Jeff  was  nettled  by  this  dodging  of  the  issue  ; 
but  he  kept  his  temper. 

"  And  if  there  had  been  you  hadn't  a  dollar 
to  spend  onless  you  kept  back  some  of  that 
which  you  stole  from  Tim." 

"  I  don't  see  the  use  of  your  harping  on  that 
affair,"  said  Hardman  angrily.  "  I've  owned 
up,  and  am  going  to  make  it  all  right  with 
Tim.  It's  none  of  your  business,  anyway,  and 
I  don't  want  to  hear  any  more  of  it." 

4 'Well,  what  I'm  getting  at  is  this  :  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  me  you'd  never  got  to  this 
place.  You're  here,  and  now  you  must  look 
out  for  yourself  ;  I  won't  have  you  an  hour 


150  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

longer  in  the  party  ;  we  part  ;  get  away  as 
soon  as  you  can  !" 

Hardman  looked  savagely  at  the  old  miner, 
as  if  suspecting  he  had  not  heard  aright.  But 
a  moment's  reflection  convinced  him  there  was 
no  mistake.  With  a  muttered  imprecation  he 
rose  to  his  feet  and  left.  But  it  was  by  no 
means  the  last  of  him. 


CHAPTEK  XIY. 

PROSPECTING. 

AFTER  the  departure  of  Hardman,  Jeff  ex 
plained  to  Tim  why  he  had  driven  him  from 
their  company.  He  told  what  Frank  had  seen 
when  crossing  Lake  Lindeman,  and  how  the 
fellow  afterward,  when  he  thought  all  were 
asleep  within  the  tent,  went  out  to  meet  his 
confederate. 

i(  I  didn't  want  to  turn  him  loose  on  the 
road,"  added  Jeff,  "  though  I  had  half  a  mind 
to  tell  him  to  hunt  up  his  friends  and  join  them. 
But  he  now  has  the  same  chance  as  the  rest  of 
us,  and  must  look  oui  for  himself. ' ' 

"  Begorra,  but  ye  are  right,  Jiff,"  was  the 
hearty  response  of  the  Irishman.  "I'm  begin 
ning  to  suspict  that  he  didn't  intind  to  give 
back  that  money  he  borrered — that  is,  if  he 
should  iver  lay  hands  on  the  same. ' ' 

Jeff  looked  pityingly  at  his  friend  ;  but  read 
ing  in  the  expression  of  his  face  that  he  was 


152  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

jesting,  he  made  no  response.  Instead,  he 
spoke  impressively  : 

"  You  never  would  have  lost  that  money  if 
you  hadn't  been  in  liquor." 

"  That's  the  fact,  Jiff  ;  but  how  did  ye  find 
it  out  ?" 

"  My  own  common  sense  told  me.  You've 
been  looking  'round  the  last  hour  for  a  chance 
to  indulge  agin." 

"I'll  admit,"  was  the  frank  response, 
"  that  a  dim  idea  of  the  kind  has  been  flicker- 
in'  through  me  brain  ;  but  I  cast  the  timpta- 
tion  indignantly  behind  me.  Do  you  know 
why  ?" 

"No." 

"  Nobody  offered  to  pay  for  the  drinks,  and 
I  haven't  a  cint  to  pay  for  any  mesilf." 

;<  And  you  won't  get  a  cent  from  me  ;  you 
must  earn  it  by  taking  out  gold.  If  you  suc 
ceed  it'll  be  yours,  and  you  can  do  as  you  please 
with  it." 

Tim  removed  his  cap  and  scratched  his  head. 

'  I've  gone  a  good  many  wakes  without  it, 
and  I  feel  so  much  better  that  I'm  thinking  of 
keeping  up  the  good  work." 

"  I  hope  you  will,  and  prove  yourself  a  man 


PROSPECTING.  153 

of  sense.  But  we  have  no  time  to  waste  ;  we 
oughter  be  on  our  way  now." 

The  sentiment  suited  all,  and  was  followed 
without  delay.  Amid  the  crush  and  hustle  it 
was  impossible  to  hire  a  horse,  mule,  donkey, 
or  boat.  Everything  had  been  engaged  long 
before,  and  there  were  hundreds  of  disappoint 
ed  applicants  who,  like  our  friends,  were  obliged 
to  make  the  tramp  eastward  on  foot,  carrying 
their  utensils  with  them,  and  leaving  behind  all 
that  was  not  necessary  in  the  work  of  placer 
mining. 

During  the  brief  stay  at  Dawson  City  the 
four  attentively  studied  such  maps  as  they  could 
secure,  and  gathered  all  information  from  the 
many  who  were  qualified  and  willing  to  give  it. 
As  a  consequence,  when  they  started  up  the 
Klondike,  they  had  a  well-defined  idea  of  their 
destination. 

The  first  stream  which  flows  into  the  river 
from  the  southward  is  the  Bonanza,  some 
twenty-five  miles  long.  This  itself  has  numer 
ous  small  tributaries  emptying  into  it  ;  but 
hearing  that  all  claims  had  been  located,  and 
not  believing  it  possible  that  any  valuable  ones 
had  been  overlooked,  they  pushed  on  to  Twelve 


154  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

Mile  Creek,  also  flowing  from  the  south.  There 
the  same  facts  confronted  them,  and  camping 
on  the  road  when  necessary,  our  friends  finally 
reached  Too  Much  Gold  Creek,  thirty-five  miles 
from  Dawson. 

Gold-hunters  were  all  around  them,  and  fre 
quently  the  men  and  boys  tramped  for  miles  in 
the  company  of  men  whom  they  had  never  seen 
before  ;  but  such  a  life  levels  social  distinc 
tions,  and  they  were  soon  upon  as  friendly 
terms  as  if  they  had  come  from  Seattle  in  com 
pany. 

At  the  mouth  of  Too  Much  Gold  Creek  they 
encountered  two  grizzly  miners,  each  mounted 
on  a  mule  that  was  so  covered  with  additional 
luggage  that  little  besides  his  head,  ears,  and 
forefeet  was  visible.  They  intended  to  cross 
the  Klondike  and  prospect  on  the  other  side. 
Jeff  asked  whether  there  was  no  gold  along  the 
creek  which  they  had  just  descended. 

"  It's  full  of  it,"  was  the  reply  of  the  elder  ; 
"  but  we're  too  late  ;  all  the  claims  have  been 
taken  up." 

"  Did  you  go  to  the  headwaters  ?" 

"  No  ;  we  didn't  want  to  waste  the  time, 
when  all  the  claims  are  gone  ;  there  are  other 


PROSPECTING.  155 

places  as  good  as  that,  and  we'll  strike  one;  so 
good -by,  friends." 

Laughing  and  in  high  spirits,  the  two  miners 
struck  their  boot  heels  against  the  ribs  of  their 
mules  and  were  off.  It  may  be  worth  record 
ing  that  both  of  them  struck  it  rich  within  the 
following  week,  and  a  month  later  started  for 
home  rich  men. 

"  It  ain't  likely,"  said  Jeff,  "  that  there  are 
many  claims  left  along  this  river  ;  but  there 
must  be  some.  Anyhow,  we'll  try  it  ;  I'm 
sure  there  are  places  among  those  mountains 
that  nobody  has  visited." 

To  the  east  and  south  towered  a  spur  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  It  would  take  hundreds  of 
men  a  long  time  thoroughly  to  explore  their 
recesses,  and  it  was  the  intention  of  the  leader 
to  push  in  among  them.  The  region  resem 
bled  that  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed  in 
California,  and  he  would  feel  more  at  home 
there. 

So  the  wearisome  tramp  was  resumed  and 
continued,  with  occasional  rests,  until  late  at 
night.  Other  parties  were  continually  encoun 
tered,  and  all  had  the  same  story  to  tell  of 
there  not  being  a  foot  of  desirable  land  that 


156  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

was  not  pre-empted.  Some  of  these  people 
were  returning,  but  most  of  them  pressed  on, 
hopeful  of  striking  some  spot  that  was  awaiting 
them. 

Encamping  under  the  shelter  of  a  rock,  the 
journey  was  resumed  early  the  next  morning, 
and,  some  twenty  miles  from  the  Klondike,  a 
turn  was  made  eastward  among  the  mountains, 
which  stretch  far  beyond  the  farthest  range  of 
vision.  They  were  following  a  small  stream 
that  showed  no  signs  of  having  been  visited, 
and  by  noon  had  reached  a  point  where  they 
seemed  as  much  alone  as  if  in  the  depths  of 
Africa. 

"  I  guess  we  may  as  well  try  it  here,"  said 
Jeff,  and  he  began  to  unload  his  pack,  in  which 
he  was  promptly  imitated  by  his  companions. 
They  quickly  finished,  and  sat  down  for  a  long 
rest. 

It  had  been  a  steady  climb  almost  from  the 
first.  But  for  their  previous  severe  training 
the  boys  would  have  succumbed,  but  they  stood 
it  well.  The  stream  which  flowed  in  front  of 
them  was  little  more  than  a  brook,  that  seemed 
to  be  made  by  the  melting  snows  above.  It 
was  clear  and  cold,  and  they  drank  deeply 


PROSPECTING.  157 

from  it.     Rocks  and  bowlders  were  above,  be 
low,  in  front,  and  at  the  rear. 

When  their  utensils  and  equipage  were  laid 
in  a  pile,  Jeff  went  off  in  one  direction,  Tim 
in  another,  while  the  boys  plunged  deeper 
into  the  mountains,  all  engaged  in  prospecting 
as  best  they  could.  Inasmuch  as  the  boys 
had  never  had  any  experience  in  that  sort  of 
work,  their  only  chance  of  success  was  through 
accident. 

They  followed  up  the  stream,  as  nearly  as 
they  could  judge,  for  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile, 
still  among  the  huge  rocks,  when  they  sat  down 
to  rest. 

"  We  may  as  well  go  back,"  cried  Roswell, 
"  for  Jeff  and  Tim  are  the  only  ones  who  know 
when  they  have  come  upon  signs  of  gold  ;  we 
may  have  passed  a  half-dozen  places  where  it 
can  be  taken  out  by  the  bushel- 
Frank  touched  his  cousin's  arm  and  indicated 
by  a  nod  of  his  head  a  pile  of  rocks  a  few  rods 
away  and  a  short  distance  above  them.  Look 
ing  thither,  they  saw  the  head  and  shoulders  of 
a  man  intently  studying  them.  When  he  found 
he  was  observed  he  lowered  his  head  and  disap 
peared. 


158  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"Do  you  know  him?"  asked  Frank,  in  an 
undertone. 

"  No  ;  I  never  saw  him  before." 

"  Yes,  you  have.  He  crossed  Lake  Linde- 
man  with  us.  He's  the  one  that  signalled  to 
Hardman  and  afterward  met  him  at  night  out 
side  of  our  tent." 


CHAPTER   XV. 

A    FIND. 

IT  was  an  unpleasant  discovery  to  the  boys 
that  after  parting  company  with  the  ill-favored 
man  who  was  known  to  be  a  friend  and  comrade 
of  the  rogue  Ike  Hardman,  and  after  travelling 
hundreds  of  miles  to  this  lonely  spot,  they 
should  meet  the  fellow  again.  Doubtless  he 
was  engaged  on  the  same  errand  as  themselves, 
and  the  presumption  was  that  sooner  or  later 
he  would  be  joined  by  Hardman. 

"  I  don't  know  that  there  is  any  danger," 
said  Roswell  ;  ' '  but  it  would  be  more  comfort 
able  to  know  they  were  not  going  to  be  our 
neighbors." 

' 4  Let's  follow  up  the  man  and  question  him, ' ' 
said  Frank,  starting  to  climb  the  rocks  behind 
which  the  other's  face  had  vanished.  It  took 
only  a  few  minutes  to  reach  the  spot  ;  but  when 
they  did  so,  and  looked  around,  nothing  was 
seen  of  him. 


160  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  He  evidently  doesn't  wish  to  make  our  ac 
quaintance,"  said  Frank. 

' '  I  hope  he  will  continue  to  feel  that  way ; 
we  must  tell  Jeff  and  Tim  about  this.  Let's 
hurry  back  to  camp.''1 

They  now  started  to  descend  the  stream, 
which  they  had  followed  from  the  point  where 
they  left  their  luggage.  By  using  the  brook  as 
their  guide,  they  were  in  no  danger  of  losing 
their  way. 

About  half  the  distance  was  passed  when 
they  came  to  a  point  where  the  walking  looked 
better  on  the  other  side.  The  stream  was  so 
narrow  that  Frank,  who  was  in  the  lead,  easily 
leaped  across.  Roswell  started  to  follow,  but 
tripped  and  fell  on  his  hands  and  knees,  one 
foot  splashing  in  the  water,  which  was  only  a 
few  inches  in  depth  and  as  clear  as  crystal. 

"  Are  you  hurt  ?"  asked  Frank,  pausing  and 
looking  around  at  him. 

"  Not  a  bit.  I  don't  know  what  made  mo  so 
awkward." 

"  Halloa  !  what's  that  ?" 

At  first  Frank  thought  it  was  a  small  fish 
holding  itself  stationary  in  the  brook  ;  but  that 
could  not  be,  and  he  stooped  down  to  see  more 


"IT'S  GOLD!"  HE  EXCLAIMED. 


A   FIND.  163 

clearly.  With  an  exclamation,  he  dashed  his 
hand  into  the  water  and  drew  out  a  rough, 
irregular  nugget  nearly  two  inches  in  diameter 
each  way.  It  was  bright  yellow  in  color,  and 
so  heavy  that  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  its 
nature. 

"  It's  gold  !"  he  exclaimed  in  a  half -fright 
ened  undertone,  as  he  passed  it  to  Roswell,  who 
was  as  much  excited  as  he.  He  "hefted"  it 
and  held  it  up  to  the  light. 

44  No  mistake,  it  is.  I  wonder  what  it  is 
worth." 

fc*  Several  hundred  dollars  at  least.  I'll  bet 
there  are  lots  more  about  here. ' ' 

They  straightway  began  a  vigorous  search 
up  and  down  stream,  confident  of  finding  other 
similar  nuggets,  but  none  was  discovered,  and 
finally  they  reached  the  place  where  their  bag 
gage  had  been  left,  and  where  Tim  and  Jeff 
were  awaiting  them. 

44  Look  !"  called  the  delighted  Frank,  hold 
ing  up  the  nugget.  "  See  what  we  found  !" 

44  Begorra,  but  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  that's 
worth  something,"  remarked  Tim,  catching  the 
contagion.  Jeff  merely  smiled  and  reached  out 
his  hand  without  any  appearance  of  excitement. 


164  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

44  Let  me  have  a  look  at  it." 

He  never  used  glasses,  nor  did  he  bring  any 
acid  with  which  to  test  such  yellow  metals  as 
they  might  find,  for  he  needed  neither.  He 
had  been  trained  too  well  in  his  early  manhood. 

The  instant  he  noted  its  great  weight  he  was 
convinced  of  the  truth.  But,  without  speaking 
for  a  minute  or  two,  he  turned  the  nugget  over, 
held  it  up  to  the  light,  and  then  put  it  between 
his  big,  sound  teeth  as  if  it  were  a  hickory-nut 
which  he  wished  to  crack.  He  looked  at  the 
abrasion  made  by  his  teeth,  tossed  the  nugget 
several  feet  in  the  air,  and,  catching  it  in  his 
palm  as  it  descended,  said  : 

"  That's  pure  gold.  Haven't  you  any 
more?" 

"No,"  replied  Frank;  "we  searched,  but 
couldn't  find  any." 

Jeff  moved  his  hand  up  and  down  and  closed 
one  eye,  as  if  that  would  help  him  to  estimate 
the  weight  more  exactly. 

"  I  should  say  that  it  is  worth  from  six  to 
eight  hundred  dollars  ;  you  younkers  have 
made  purty  good  wages  for  to-day.  I  hope," 
he  added  quizzically,  "  you'll  be  able  to  keep  it 
up." 


A  FIND.  165 

"  And  how  have  you  made  out  ?"  asked  Eos- 
well. 

"Tim  says  he  didn't  come  onto  anything 
that  looks  like  pay  dirt  ;  but  I  struck  a  spot 
that  gives  me  hope.  We'll  locate  here  for  a 
while." 

Of  course  it  was  impossible  for  the  party  to 
bring  any  material  with  them  from  which  to 
construct  a  dwelling.  The  regulation  miner's 
cabin  is  twelve  by  fourteen  feet,  with  walls  six 
or  seven  feet  high,  and  gables  two  feet  higher. 
It  consists  of  a  single  room,  with  the  roof  heav 
ily  earthed  and  the  worst  sort  of  ventilation, 
owing  to  the  small  windows  and  the  necessity 
of  keeping  warm  in  a  climate  that  sometimes 
drops  to  fifty  or  sixty  degrees  below  zero.  The 
miners  keep  close  within  the  cabins  during  the 
terrible  winter  weather,  or,  if  it  permits,  they 
sink  a  shaft  to  bed-rock  and  then  tunnel  in 
different  directions.  The  ground  never  thaws 
below  a  depth  of  two  feet,  so  there  is  no  need 
of  shoring  to  prevent  its  caving.  The  pay  dirt 
is  brought  up  by  means  of  a  small  windlass  and 
thrown  into  a  heap,  where  it  remains  until 
spring,  when  it  is  washed  out. 

Since   the   season    was   well   advanced,   the 


166  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

men  and  boys  prepared  themselves  to  wash  the 
pay  dirt  whenever  found.  But,  first  of  all,  it 
was  necessary  to  establish  a  home  for  them 
selves  while  they  remained  in  the  region.  They 
had  a  single  axe  and  a  few  utensils  besides  the 
shovels,  pans,  and  articles  required  in  their 
work.  While  Tim  was  prospecting,  he  gave 
more  attention  to  searching  for  a  site  for  a 
home  than  for  gold,  and  was  fortunate  enough 
to  find  a  place  among  the  rocks,  which  was 
fitted  up  quite  comfortably.  The  stone  fur 
nished  three  and  a  part  of  four  walls  necessary, 
and  they  cut  branches,  which  were  spread  over 
the  top  and  covered  with  dirt  for  the  roof. 
Owing  to  the  moderate  weather  and  the  trouble 
from  smoke,  the  fire  was  kindled  on  the  outside 
when  required  for  cooking  purposes.  The 
Yukon  stove,  because  of  its  weight,  was  left  at 
Dawson  City,  whither  one  of  them  expected  to 
go  when  it  became  necessary  to  replenish  their 
stores.  Although  the  nights  were  still  cold, 
the  weather  was  comparatively  comfortable. 
Before  long  it  would  become  oppressive  during 
the  middle  of  the  day. 

As  Jeff  figured  it  out,  they  had  enough  food, 
tobacco,   and  supplies  to   last  for  a  couple  of 


A  FIND.  167 

weeks,  or  possibly  longer.  If  they  struck  a 
claim  which  they  wished  to  stake  out,  it  would 
be  necessary  for  one  of  them  to  go  to  Dawson 
City  to  register  it,  the  process  being  quite 
simple. 

The  prospector  is  forbidden  to  exceed  five 
hundred  feet  up  and  down  a  stream,  following 
the  course  of  the  valley,  but  the  width  may  run 
from  base  to  base  of  the  mountains.  Thus  a 
miner's  claim  is  one  of  the  few  things  that  is 
often  broader  than  it  is  long.  Should  the 
stream  have  no  other  claims  located  upon  it, 
the  one  thus  made  is  known  as  the  ' '  the  discov 
ery  claim,"  and  the  stakes  used  are  marked  0. 
This  claim  is  the  starting-point,  the  next  one  up 
and  the  next  down  the  stream  being  marked 
No.  1,  and  there  can  be  only  two  such  on  any 
stream. 

Next,  four  stakes  must  be  driven  in  place, 
each  being  marked  with  the  owner's  initials  and 
the  letters  "  M.  L.,"  meaning  "mining  loca 
tion,"  after  which  it  must  be  bounded  with 
cross  or  end  lines,  and  within  the  ensuing  sixty 
days  the  claim  has  to  be  filed  with  the  govern 
ment's  recorder  at  Dawson  City.  Should  a 
claim  be  staked  before  the  discovery  of  gold, 


168  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

the  prospector  has  sixty  days  in  which  to  find 
the  metal.  If  he  fails  to  do  so  in  the  time  men 
tioned,  his  claim  lapses,  since  it  is  absolutely 
essential  that  he  shall  find  gold  in  order  to  hold 
it  permanently. 


CHAPTEE  XVI. 

THE    CLAIM. 

the  least  interesting  feature  of  the  stay 
of  our  friends  in  the  gold  region  was  their 
dwelling  during  those  memorable  days.  The 
rocks  came  so  nearly  together  that  an  irregular 
open  space  was  left,  which  averaged  a  width  of 
twenty  feet  with  a  depth  slightly  less.  Thus 
three  sides  and  the  floor  were  composed  of  solid 
stone.  When  the  roof,  as  described,  was  put 
in  place,  the  dwelling  had  the  appearance  of  a 
cavern  fully  open  at  the  front.  There  the  can 
vas  composing  the  tent  was  stretched,  and  so 
arranged  that  the  dwelling,  as  it  may  be 
called,  was  completed.  It  was  inclosed  on  all 
sides,  with  the  door  composed  of  the  flaps  of 
the  tent,  which  could  be  lowered  at  night,  so 
that  the  inmates  were  effectually  protected 
against  the  weather,  though  had  there  been 
any  prowling  wild  animals  or  intruding  white 
men  near,  they  would  have  had  little  difficulty 


170  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

in  forcing  an  entrance.  It  has  been  explained 
how  all  trouble  from  the  smoke  of  a  fire  was 
avoided. 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  this  primitive 
house  was  its  interior  arrangement.  There 
were  so  many  projecting  points  on  the  walls 
that  they  were  utilized  as  pegs  upon  which  to 
hang  the  extra  garments.  A  ledge  a  couple  of 
feet  above  the  floor  served  as  a  couch,  upon 
which  the  boys  spread  their  blankets,  while  the 
men  laid  theirs  on  the  floor  itself.  The  min 
ing  and  cooking  utensils  were  neatly  arranged 
against  the  rear  wall,  where  were  piled  the 
small  canvas  bags  intended  to  contain  the  gold 
dust  and  nuggets  that  were  to  be  gathered. 

Jeff  expressed  the  truth  when  he  said  : 

"  This  will  sarveus  well  while  the  weather  is 
moderate  ;  but  if  we  should  be  here  when  the 
thermometer  goes  down  to  fifty  or  sixty  degrees 
below  zero,  we'd  turn  into  icicles  before  we 
could  say  Jack  Robinson. ' ' 

Hardly  pausing  to  place  their  house  in  order, 
the  party  set  out  to  investigate  the  find  which 
Jeff  hoped  he  had  made. 

Going  up  the  stream  for  a  short  distance, 
they  turned  off  into  a  narrow  valley,  which 


THE  CLAIM.  171 

never  would  have  attracted  the  attention  of  the 
boys. 

The  old  miner  stood  for  some  minutes  atten 
tively  studying  his  surroundings,  and  then,  in 
stead  of  beginning  to  dig,  as  his  companions 
expected  him  to  do,  he  said  with  an  expression 
of  disgust  : 

41  Boys,  I've  made  a  mistake  ;  there's  no 
gold  here. ' ' 

44  How  can  you  tell  until  you  search  ?"  asked 
the  astonished  Eos  well. 

44  It  ain't  what  I  thought  it  was  ;  you  don't 
find  the  stuff  in  places  like  this.  There's  no 
use  of  wasting  time  ;  come  on." 

Wondering  at  his  action,  the  three,  smiling 
but  silent,  trailed  after  him.  Climbing  over 
some  intervening  bowlders,  they  shortly  emerged 
into  a  place  altogether  different  from  any  they 
had  yet  seen.  It  was  a  valley  two  or  three  hun 
dred  feet  in  width,  with  the  sides  gently  slop 
ing.  There  was  no  snow  on  the  ground,  and 
here  and  there  a  few  green  blades  of  grass 
could  be  seen  sprouting  from  the  fertile  soil. 
Through  the  middle  of  this  valley  meandered  a 
stream  eight  or  ten  feet  in  width,  but  shallow, 
and  so  clear  that  the  bottom  could  be  plainly 


172  KLONDIKE  NUGGET*. 

seen  while  yet  some  distance  away.  The  val 
ley  itself  soon  curved  out  of  sight  above,  and  it 
was  impossible,  therefore,  to  guess  its  extent 
in  that  direction.  Below  it  terminated,  not  far 
from  where  they  stood,  the  rocks  coming  to 
gether  so  as  to  form  a  small  canon,  through 
which  the  creek  rushed  with  a  velocity  that 
reminded  them  of  the  dangerous  ones  they  had 
passed  on  their  way  from  Chilkoot  Pass. 

"  Wait  here  a  bit,"  said  Jeff,  as  he  started 
toward  the  stream.  The  others  obeyed,  watch 
ing  his  actions  with  interest. 

He  strode  to  the  creek,  along  which  he 
walked  a  few  rods,  his  head  bent  as  he  care 
fully  scrutinized  all  that  passed  under  his  eye. 
Suddenly  he  stopped  and  stared  as  if  he  had 
found  that  for  which  he  was  looking.  Then 
stooping  down,  he  leaned  as  far  out  as  he  could, 
gathered  a  handful  of  the  gravelly  soil,  and 
put  it  in  the  washer  which  he  had  taken  with 
him.  This  was  repeated  several  times.  Then 
lie  dipped  the  pan  so  as  nearly  to  fill  it  with 
water,  after  which  he  Avhirled  it  round  several 
times  with  a  speed  that  caused  some  of  the 
water  to  fly  out.  That  part  of  his  work  com 
pleted,  he  set  down  the  pan  which  served  as  a 


THE  CLAIM.  173 

washer,  and  walked  rapidly  back  toward  his 
friends. 

"  Another  disappointment,' '  remarked  Frank  ; 
"  it  isn't  as  easy  to  find  gold  as  we  thought." 

"  I  don't  know  about  that,"  said  Tim  McCabe. 
' '  Jiff  looks  to  me  as  if  he  has  hit  on  something 
worth  while.  How  is  it,  Jiff  ?' '  he  called  as 
the  old  miner  drew  near. 

"That's  our  claim,"  he  replied;  "we'll 
stake  it  out,  and  then  I'm  going  to  Dawson  to 
file  it." 

"  Are  you  sure  there  is  gold  here  ?"  asked 
Roswell,  in  some  excitement. 

"  Yes,  I  hit  it  this  time.  We  mustn't  lose 
any  days  in  staking  it  out,  or  somebody  else 
will  get  ahead  of  us. ' ' 

The  assurance  of  Jeff  imparted  confidence  to 
the  rest.  The  stakes  were  cut  and  driven,  ac 
cording  to  the  rule  already  stated,  and  then 
Jeff  breathed  more  freely. 

"  We've  got  sixty  days  to  find  the  stuff,"  he 
said,  "  and  nobody  daren't  say  a  word  to  us. 
All  the  same,  I'm  going  to  Dawson  to  file  the 
claim  and  make  things  dead  sure. ' ' 

"  When  will  you  go  ?" 

"  Now,   right  off.     I   want  to   bring  back 


174  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

some  things  with  me,  and  I'll  be  gone  two  or 
three  days,  but  I  won't  lose  no  time." 

Jeff  was  one  of  those  men  who  do  not  require 
long  to  make  up  their  minds,  and  whom,  having 
reached  a  decision,  nothing  can  turn  aside  from 
its  execution.  Ten  minutes  later  he  was  hurry 
ing  toward  Dawson  City,  forty  miles  or  more 
distant. 

Inasmuch  as  Tim  McCabe  had  practical 
knowledge  of  placer  mining,  the  three  decided 
to  improve  the  time  while  Jeff  was  absent  in 
taking  out  some  of  the  gold  which  he  assured 
them  was  there. 

As  has  been  explained,  this  form  of  mining 
is  of  the  crudest  and  cheapest  nature.  In  win 
ter,  after  sinking  a  shaft  to  bed-rock,  tunnels 
are  run  in  different  directions,  and  the  frozen 
dirt  piled  up  until  warm  weather  permits  its 
washing  out.  The  distance  to  bed-rock  varies 
from  four  to  twenty  feet.  The  gold  is  found 
in  dust,  grains,  and  nuggets,  the  last  varying 
from  the  size  of  a  hickory-nut  or  larger  to  small 
grains  of  pure  gold. 

It  quite  often  occurs  that  the  bed-rock  is 
seamy,  with  many  small  depressions.  It  is  sup 
posed  that  when  the  debris  containing  the  orig- 


THE  HOYS  STOOD  ATTENTIVELY  WATCHING  THE  OPERATION. 


THE  CLAIM.  177 

inal  gold  swept  over  this  bed-rock,  the  great 
weight  of  the  metal  caused  it  to  fall  and  lodge 
in  the  crevices,  where  it  has  lain  for  ages. 
Certain  it  is  that  the  richest  finds  have  been 
made  in  such  places. 

Having  fixed  upon  the  spot  where  the  work 
should  begin,  Tim  McCabe  and  the  boys  set  to 
work  to  clear  off  the  coarse  gravel  and  stone 
from  a  patch  of  ground.  At  the  end  of  sev 
eral  hours  they  had  completed  enough  to  begin 
operations.  Tim  dropped  a  few  handfuls  of 
the  finer  gravel  or  sand  into  his  pan,  which  was 
a  broad,  shallow  dish  of  sheet  iron.  Then 
water  was  dipped  into  the  pan  until  it  was  full, 
when  he  whirled  it  swiftly  about  and  up  and 
down.  This  allowed  the  gold,  on  account  of 
its  greater  specific  gravity,  to  fall  to  the  bot 
tom,  while  the  sand  itself  was  floated  off  by  the 
agitation.  Tim  had  learned  the  knack  of  dip 
ping  the  pan  sideways,  so  as  gradually  to  get 
rid  of  the  worthless  stuff,  while  the  heavy  yel 
low  particles  remained  below. 

The  boys  stood  attentively  watching  the 
operation,  which  was  carried  on  with  such  skill 
that  by  and  by  nothing  was  left  in  the  bottom 
but  the  yellow  and  black  particles.  The  latter 


178  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

were  pulverized  magnetic  iron  ore,  which  almost 
always  accompanies  the  gold.  Frank's  and  Eos- 
well's  eyes  sparkled  as  they  saw  so  much  of  the 
yellow  particles,  even  though  it  looked  almost 
as  fine  as  the  black  sand. 

44  How  will  you  separate  them?"  asked 
Frank. 

41  Now  ye'll  obsarve  the  use  that  that  cask  is 
to  be  put  to,"  replied  Tim,  44  if  ye'll  oblige  me 
by  filling  the  same  with  water." 

This  was  done,  when  Tim  flung  about  a 
pound  of  mercury  into  the  cask,  after  which  he 
dumped  into  it  the  black  and  yellow  sand.  As 
soon  as  the  gold  came  in  contact  with  the  mer 
cury  it  formed  an  amalgam. 

44  This  will  do  to  start  things,"  said  Tim. 
44  When  we  have  enough  to  make  it  pay,  we'll 
squaze  it  through  a  buckskin  bag. " 

44  What  is  the  result  ?" 

4k  Nearly  all  the  mercury  will  ooze  through 
the  bag,  and  we  can  use  the  same  agin  in  the 
cask.  The  impure  goold  will  be  placed  on  a 
shovel  and  held  over  a  hot  fire  till  the  mercury 
has  gone  off  in  vapor,  and  only  the  pure  goold 
is  lift,  or  rather  there's  just  a  wee  bit  of  the 
mercury  still  hanging  'bout  the  goold  ;  but 


THE  CLAIM.  179 

we'll  make  a  big  improvement  whin  Jiff  comes 
back.  The  filing  of  this  claim  ain't  the  only 
thing  that  takes  him  to  Dawson  City." 

"  What  do  you  think  of  the  deposit  here  f ' 
"  I  b'lave  it's  one  of  the  richest  finds  in  the 
Kloondike  counthry,  and  if  it  turns  out  as  it 
promises,  we  shall  go  home  and  live  like  gintle- 
men  the  rist  of  our  lives." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A    GOLDEN    HARVEST. 

TIM  McCABE  and  the  boys  wrought  steadily 
through  the  rest  of  the  day  and  the  following 
two  days.  Inasmuch  as  the  summer  sun  in  the 
Klondike  region  does  not  thaw  the  soil  to  a 
greater  depth  than  two  feet,  it  was  necessary 
to  pile  wood  upon  the  earth  and  set  it  afire. 
As  this  gradually  dissolved  the  frozen  ground, 
the  refuse  dirt  was  cleared  away,  so  as  to  reach 
paying  earth  or  gravel.  The  results  for  a  time 
were  disappointing.  The  gold-hunters  secured 
a  good  deal  of  yellow  grains  or  dust,  and  or 
dinarily  would  have  been  satisfied,  but  natu 
rally  they  were  greedy  for  more. 

There  came  times  of  discouragement,  when 
the  boys  began  to  doubt  the  truth  of  the  won 
derful  stories  that  had  reached  them  from  the 
Klondike  region,  or  they  thought  that  if  per 
chance  the  reports  were  true,  they  themselves 
and  their  friends  had  not  hit  upon  a  productive 


A   GOLDEN  HARVEST.  181 

spot.  Tim,  when  appealed  to,  had  little  to  say, 
but  it  was  of  a  hopeful  nature.  It  would  have 
been  unnatural  had  he  not  been  absorbed  in 
the  work  in  hand. 

That  there  was  gold  was  undeniable,  for  the 
evidence  was  continually  before  them,  but  the 
question  was  whether  it  was  to  be  found  in  pay 
ing  quantities  upon  their  claim.  At  the  close 
of  the  second  day  all  they  had  gathered  was 
not  worth  ten  dollars. 

But  the  harvest  rewarded  them  on  the  third 
day.  Tim  was  working  hard  and  silently, 
when  he  suddenly  leaped  to  his  feet,  flung  down 
his  pick,  and  hurling  his  cap  in  the  air,  began 
dancing  a  jig  and  singing  an  Irish  ditty.  The 
boys  looked  at  him  in  amazement,  wondering 
whether  he  had  bidden  good-by  to  his  senses. 

"  Do  ye  obsarve  that  beauty?"  he  asked, 
stopping  short  and  holding  up  a  yellow  nugget 
as  large  as  the  one  the  boys  had  taken  from  the 
brook  several  days  before.  Roswell  and  Frank 
hurried  up  to  him  and  examined  the  prize. 
There  could  be  no  doubt  that  it  was  virgin  gold 
and  worth  several  hundred  dollars. 

Twenty  minutes  later  it  was  RoswelFs  turn 
to  hurrah,  for  he  came  upon  one  almost  as 


182  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

large.  And  he  did  hurrah,  too,  and  his  friends 
joined  in  with  a  vigor  that  could  not  be  criti 
cised.  Congratulating  one  another,  the  three 
paused  but  a  few  minutes  to  inspect  the  finds, 
when  they  were  digging  harder  than  ever. 

"  I  think  it  is  my  turn,"  remarked  Frank  ; 
4 '  you  fellows  are  becoming  so  proud,  that  if  I 
don't  find— by  George,  I  have  found  it!" 

Incredible  as  it  seemed,  it  was  true,  and 
Frank's  prize  Avas  larger  than  any  of  the 
others.  Instantly  they  were  at  work  again, 
glowing  with  hope  and  delight.  No  more 
nuggets  were  taken  out  that  day,  but  the 
gravel  revealed  greater  richness  than  at  any 
time  before. 

Jeff  Graham  put  in  an  appearance  while  they 
were  eating  supper,  and,  to  the  surprise  of  all, 
he  was  riding  a  tough  little  burro,  which  he 
had  bought  at  Dawson  for  five  hundred  dol 
lars.  His  eyes  sparkled  when  he  learned  what 
had  been  done  during  his  absence,  but  he 
quietly  remarked,  "  I  knowed  it,"  and  having 
turned  his  animal  loose,  after  unloading  him, 
he  asked  for  the  particulars. 

Although  it  was  quite  cold,  the  four  remained 
seated  on  the  bowlders  outside  of  their  primi- 


A   GOLDEN  HARVEST.  183 

tive  dwelling,  the  men  smoking  their  pipes  and 
discussing  the  wonderful  success  they  had  had, 
and  the  still  greater  that  was  fairly  within 
their  grasp. 

"  We're  not  so  much  alone  as  I  thought,"  re 
marked  Jeff,  "  for  there  are  fifty  miners  to  the 
east  and  north,  and  some  of  them  ain't  far 
from  where  we've  staked  out  our  claim,  and 
more  are  coming." 

4 '  They  can't  interfere  with  us?"  was  the 
inquiring  remark  of  Roswell. 

14  Not  much.  As  a  rule,  folks  don't  file  their 
claims  till  they've  struck  onto  a  spot  where  the 
yaller  stuff  shows;  but  I've  done  both,  'cause  I 
was  sartin  that  we'd  hit  it  rich.  If  anybody 
tried  to  jump  our  claim,  the  first  thing  I'd  do 
would  be  to  shoot  him  ;  then  I'd  turn  him  over 
to  the  mounted  police  that  are  looking  after 
things  all  through  this  country." 

"  Ye  mane  that  ye'd  turn  over  what  was 
lift  of  his  remains,"  suggested  Tim  gravely. 

"  It  would  amount  to  that.  Things  are  in 
better  shape  here  than  they  was  in  the  old  times 
in  Californy,  where  a  man  had  to  fight  for 
what  he  had,  and  then  he  wasn't  always  able 
to  keep  it. ' ' 


184  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  What  do  you  intend  to  do  with  the  burro  f ' 
asked  Frank. 

"  Let  him  run  loose  till  we  need  him.  He 
brought  a  purty  good  load  of  such  things  as  we 
want,  and  I'm  hoping  he'll  have  another  kind 
of  load  to  take  back,"  was  the  significant  reply 
of  the  old  miner. 

This  was  the  nearest  Jeff  came  to  particulars. 
His  natural  reserve  as  to  what  he  had  done  and 
concerning  his  plans  for  the  future  prevented 
any  further  enlightenment.  The  fact  that  they 
had  neighbors  at  no  great  distance  was  both 
pleasing  and  displeasing.  Despite  the  assur 
ance  of  their  leader,  there  was  some  misgiving 
that  when  the  richness  of  the  find  became 
known  an  attempt  would  be  made  to  rob  them. 
Gold  will  incite  many  men  to  commit  any 
crime,  and  with  the  vast  recesses  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  spur  behind  them,  the  criminals  might 
be  ready  to  take  desperate  chances. 

It  was  hardly  light  the  next  morning  when 
the  party  were  at  it  again.  The  pan  or  hand 
method  of  washing  the  gold  is  so  slow  and 
laborious  that  with  the  help  and  superinten 
dence  of  Jeff  a  "rocker"  was  set  up.  This 
was  a  box  about  three  feet  l.ong  and  two  wide, 


A   GOLDEN  HARVEST.  185 

made  in  two  parts.  The  upper  part  was  shal 
low,  with  a  strong  sheet-iron  bottom  perfo 
rated  with  quarter-inch  holes.  In  the  middle 
of  the  other  part  of  the  box  was  an  inclined 
shelf,  which  sloped  downward  for  six  or  eight 
inches  at  the  lower  end.  Over  this  was  placed 
a  piece  of  heavy  woollen  blanket,  the  whole 
being  mounted  upon  two  rockers,  like  those  of 
an  ordinary  child's  cradle.  These  were  rested 
on  two  strong  blocks  of  wood  to  permit  of  their 
being  rocked  readily. 

This  device  was  placed  beside  the  running 
stream.  As  the  pay  dirt  was  shovelled  into  the 
upper  shallow  box,  one  of  the  party  rocked  it 
with  one  hand  while  with  the  other  he  ladled 
water.  The  fine  particles  with  the  gold  fell 
through  the  holes  upon  the  blanket,  which  held 
the  gold,  while  the  sand  and  other  matter 
glided  over  it  to  the  bottom  of  the  box,  which 
was  so  inclined  that  what  passed  through  was 
washed  down  and  finally  out  of  the  box.  Thin 
slats  were  fixed  across  the  bottom  of  the  box, 
with  mercury  behind  them,  to  catch  such  parti 
cles  of  gold  as  escaped  the  blanket. 

The  stuff  dug  up  by  our  friends  was  so  nug- 
gety  that  many  lumps  remained  in  the  upper 


186  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

box,  where  they  were  detained  by  their  weight, 
while  the  lighter  stuff  passed  through,  and  the 
smaller  lumps  were  held  by  a  deeper  slat  at  the 
further  end  of  the  bottom  of  the  box.  When 
the  blanket  became  surcharged  with  wealth  it 
was  removed  and  rinsed  in  a  barrel  of  water, 
the  particles  amalgamating  with  the  mercury 
in  the  bottom  of  the  barrel. 

Sluicing  requires  plenty  of  running  water 
with  considerable  fall,  and  is  two  or  three  times 
as  rapid  as  the  method  just  described,  but  since 
it  was  not  adopted  by  our  friends,  a  description 
need  not  be  given. 

At  the  end  of  a  week  Jeff,  with  the  help  of 
his  companions,  made  a  careful  estimate  of  the 
nuggets  and  sand  which  they  had  gathered 
and  stowed  away  in  the  cavern  where  they 
slept  and  took  their  meals.  As  nearly  as  they 
could  figure  it  out  the  gold  which  they  had  col 
lected  was  worth  not  quite  one  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars— very  fair  wages,  it  will  be  con 
ceded,  for  six  days'  work  by  two  men  and  two 
boys.  On  Sunday  they  conscientiously  ab 
stained  from  labor,  though  it  can  hardly  be 
said  that  their  thoughts  were  elsewhere. 

Since  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  gold 


A  GOLDEtf  HARVEST.  187 

weighs  in  the  neighborhood  of  four  hundred 
pounds,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  party  had  al 
ready  accumulated  a  good  load  to  be  distributed 
among  themselves.  It  may  have  been  that  the 
expectation  of  this  result  caused  Jeff  to  bring 
the  burro  back,  for  with  his  help  it  would  not 
be  hard  to  carry  double  the  amount,  especially 
as  everything  else  would  be  left  behind. 

To  the  surprise  of  his  friends,  Jeff  announced 
that  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  make  another 
visit  to  Dawson  City.  It  was  important  busi 
ness  that  called  him  thither,  but  he  gave  no 
hint  of  its  nature.  He  hoped  to  be  back  within 
two  or  three  days,  and  he  departed  on  foot, 
leaving  the  animal  to  recuperate,  and,  as  he 
grimly  added,  "make  himself  strong  enough 
to  carry  a  good  load  to  knvn.' ' 

Jeff  left  early  in  the  morning.  The  after 
noon  was  about  half  gone,  when  Tim  with  an 
expression  of  anxious  concern  announced  that 
he  had  just  remembered  something  which  re 
quired  him  to  go  to  Dawson  without  an  hour's 
delay. 

u  It's  queer  that  I  didn't  think  of  the  same 
while  Jiff  was  here,"  he  said,  "  so  that  he 
might  have  enj'yed  the  plisure  of  me  society, 


188  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

but  it  won't  be  hard  for  me  to  find  him  after  I 
git  there.  Ye  byes  wont  be  scared  of  being 
lift  to  yersilves  fur  a  few  days  ?"  he  asked 
with  so  much  earnestness  that  they  hastened  to 
assure  him  he  need  have  no  misgivings  on  that 
point. 

"  We  shall  keep  hard  at  it  while  you  are 
away,  but  since  Jeff  is  also  absent  we  shall  be 
lonely." 

"  Luk  fur  me  very  soon.  I'll  advise  Jiff  to 
make  ye  an  extra  allowance  for  yer  wurruk 
while  him  and  me  is  doing  nothing." 

Two  hours  after  the  departure  of  McCabe, 
Frank,  who  was  working  the  rocker  while  his 
chum  was  shovelling  in  the  dirt,  suddenly 
stopped,  with  expanding  eyes. 

"  I  have  just  thought  what  Tim's  business  is 
at  Dawson." 

"What  is  it  ?" 

"  It  is  his  longing  for  drink.  He  has  gone 
on  a  spree,  taking  one  of  his  nuggets  with  him 
to  pay  the  cost.  Jeff  will  be  sure  to  run  across 
him,  and  then  there  will  be  music." 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

A    STARTLING    DISCOVERY. 

THE  weather  was  mild,  for  the  short,  oppress 
ive  Northwest  summer  was  rapidly  approach 
ing.  During  the  middle  of  the  day  the  sun 
was  hot,  and  the  boys  perspired  freely.  By 
and  by  would  come  the  billions  of  mosquitoes 
to  render  life  unbearable.  Those  pests  often 
kill  bears  and  wolves  by  blinding  them,  and 
the  man  who  does  not  wear  some  protection  is 
driven  frantic,  unable  to  eat,  sleep,  or  live,  ex 
cept  in  smothering  smoke.  Jeff  had  said  that 
he  meant  to  complete  the  work,  if  possible,  and 
start  down  the  Yukon  before  that  time  of  tor 
ment  arrived. 

For  two  days  the  boys  wrought  incessantly. 
They  had  learned  how  to  wash  and  purify  the 
gold  in  the  crude  way  taught  them  by  the  old 
miner,  and  the  rich  reward  for  their  labor  con 
tinued.  Jeff  had  brought  back  on  his  previous 
visit  to  Dawson  City  an  abundant  supply  of 


192  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

strong  canvas  bags,  in  which  the  gold  was 
placed,  with  the  tops  securely  tied.  These  were 
regularly  deposited  in  the  cavern  where  the 
party  made  their  home,  until  a  row  of  them 
lined  one  side  of  the  place.  It  was  a  striking 
proof  of  the  wonderful  richness  of  their  find, 
that  one  of  these  bags  was  filled  wholly  with 
nuggets,  which  must  have  been  worth  fifteen 
or  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

Early  on  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  an 
other  thought  struck  Frank  Mansley,  and  he 
ceased  shovelling  gravel  into  the  rocker  for  his 
companion. 

44  What  is  it  now  ?"  asked  Eos  well  with  a 
smile. 

"  Don't  you  remember  that  on  the  first  day 
we  arrived  here,  while  we  were  prospecting  up 
the  little  stream,  we  saw  that  friend  of  Ike 
Hardman  ?" 

"  Yes,  of  course." 

"  Well,  we  never  told  Jeff  about  it." 

"I  declare!"  exclaimed  Eoswell.  "  How 
came  we  to  forget  it?" 

"  This  gold  drove  it  out  of  our  minds.  I  never 
thought  of  it  until  this  minute.  I  tell  you,  Kos- 
well,  I  believe  something  has  gone  wrong." 


A  STARTLING  DISCOVERY.  193 

And  Frank  sat  down,  removed  his  cap,  and 
wiped  his  moist  forehead  with  his  handker 
chief. 

"  What  could  have  gone  wrong  ?"  asked  the 
other  lad,  who,  despite  his  jauntiness,  shared 
in  a  degree  the  anxiety  of  his  friend. 

"  All  the  gold  we  have  gathered  is  in  the 
cavern.  I  believe  Hardman  and  those  fellows 
are  in  the  neighborhood  and  mean  to  steal  it." 
"  It's  a  pity  we  didn't  think  of  this  before," 
said  Roswell,  laying  down  his  shovel.  "  Let's 
go  back  to  the  cavern  and  keep  watch  till  Jeff 
comes  back. " 

Inspired  by  their  new  dread,  they  hastily 
gathered  up  what  gold  had  been  washed  out, 
stowed  it  into  another  canvas  bag,  and  then 
Frank  slung  it  half  filled  over  his  shoulder  and 
started  for  the  cavern,  something  more  than  an 
eighth  of  a  mile  away. 

They  walked  fast  and  in  silence,  for  the 
thought  in  the  mind  of  both  was  the  same. 
From  the  first  the  most  imprudent  carelessness 
had  been  shown,  and  they  could  not  understand 
how  Jeff  ever  allowed  the  valuable  store  to  re 
main  unguarded.  It  is  true,  as  has  already 
been  stated,  that  the  section,  despite  the  rush 


194  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

of  lawless  characters  that  have  flocked  thither, 
is  one  of  the  best  governed  in  the  world,  and 
no  officers  could  be  more  watchful  and  effective 
than  the  mounted  police  of  the  Northwest;  but 
the  course  of  our  friends  had  much  the  appear 
ance  of  a  man  leaving  his  pocketbook  in  the 
middle  of  the  street  and  expecting  to  find  it 
again  the  next  day. 

A  bitter  reflection  of  the  boys  was  that  this 
never  would  have  been  the  case  had  they  told 
Jeff  of  the  presence  of  the  suspicious  individual 
in  the  neighborhood.  If  anything  went  amiss, 
they  felt  that  the  blame  must  rest  with  them 
If  matters  were  found  right,  they  would  not 
leave  the  cavern  until  one  or  both  of  their 
friends  returned. 

When  half  the  distance  was  passed,  Roswell, 
who  was  in  the  lead,  broke  into  a  lope,  with 
Frank  instantly  doing  the  same.  A  minute 
later  they  had  to  slacken  their  pace  because  of 
the  need  to  climb  some  bowlders  and  make 
their  way  through  an  avenue  between  massive 
rocks,  but  the  instant  it  was  possible  they  were 
trotting  again. 

It  had  been  the  custom  for  the  gold-seekers 
to  take  a  lunch  with  them  to  the  diggings. 


•         ''  '        '         ' 


WE  HAVE  BEEN  KO13BEU  !     ALL  THE  GOLD  IS  GONE." 


A  STARTLING  DISCOVERT.  197 

This  saved  time,  and  their  real  meal  was  eaten 
in  the  evening  after  their  return  home. 

The  moment  Koswell  caught  sight  of  the 
round,  irregular  opening  which  served  as  the 
door  of  their  dwelling,  he  anxiously  scanned  it 
and  the  pile  of  wood  and  embers  on  the  out 
side,  where  the  fire  was  kindled  for  cooking 
purposes.  The  fact  that  he  saw  nothing  amiss 
gave  him  hope,  but  did  not  remove  the  singular 
distrust  that  had  brought  both  in  such  haste 
from  the  diggings. 

He  ran  faster,  while  Frank,  discommoded  by 
the  heavy,  bouncing  bag  over  his  shoulder, 
stumbled,  and  his  hat  fell  off.  With  an  im 
patient  exclamation  he  caught  it  up,  recovered 
himself,  and  was  off  again. 

As  he  looked  ahead  he  saw  Roswell  duck  his 
head  and  plunge  through  the  opening. 

"  Is  everything  right  ?"  shouted  Frank, 
whose  dread  intensified  with  each  passing 
second. 

Before  he  could  reach  the  door  out  came  his 
cousin,  as  if  fired  by  a  catapult.  His  eyes  were 
staring  and  his  face  as  white  as  death. 

"  Right  !"  he  gasped  ;  "  we  have  been 
robbed  !  All  the  gold  is  gone  !" 


198  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

And  overcome  by  the  shock  the  poor  fellow 
collapsed  and  sank  to  the  ground  as  weak  as  a 
kitten.  Frank  let  the  bag  fall  and  straight 
ened  up. 

"  No  ;  it  cannot  be,"  he  said  in  a  husky 
voice. 

"  Look  for  yourself,"  replied  Roswell,  swal 
lowing  a  lump  in  his  throat  and  turning  his  eyes 
pitifully  toward  his  comrade. 

A  strange  fear  held  Frank  motionless  for  sev 
eral  seconds.  Despite  the  startling  declaration 
of  his  cousin,  a  faint  hope  thrilled  him  that  he 
was  mistaken,  and  yet  he  dared  not  peer  into 
the  interior  through  dread  of  finding  he  was 
not. 

Reflecting,  however,  upon  the  childish  part 
he  was  playing,  he  pulled  himself  together,  and 
with  the  deliberation  of  Jeff  Graham  himself 
bent  his  head  and  passed  through  the  door. 

Enough  sunlight  penetrated  the  cavern  to  re 
veal  the  whole  interior  in  the  faint  illumina 
tion.  When  they  left  that  morning  the  row  of 
canvas  bags  was  neatly  arranged  along  the 
farther  wall,  where  they  stood  like  so  many 
corpulent  little  brownies. 

Every  one  had  vanished. 


A   STARTLING  DISCOVERT.  199 

Frank  Mansley  stared  for  a  moment  in  silence. 
Then  he  stepped  forward  and  called  in  a  strong, 
firm  voice  : 

"  Come,  Roswell,  quick  !" 

The  other  roused  himself  and  hastily  ad 
vanced. 

"  Take  your  revolver,"  said  Frank,  as  he 
shoved  his  own  into  his  hip-pocket,  and  begun 
strapping  Jeif  s  cartridge  belt  around  his  waist. 
As  Roswell  obeyed,  his  cousin  took  the  Win 
chester  from  where  it  leaned  in  one  corner. 

"  Now  for  those  thieves,  and  we  don't  come 
back  till  we  find  them.' 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

THE    TRAIL    INTO    THE    MOUNTAINS. 

ON  the  outside  of  the  cavern  the  boys  halt 
ed.  After  the  shock  both  were  comparatively 
calm.  Their  faces  were  pale,  and  they  com 
pressed  their  lips  with  resolution.  Some  time 
during  the  preceding  few  hours  thieves  had  en 
tered  their  home  and  carried  away  one  hundred 
thousand  dollars  in  gold  dust  and  nuggets,  and 
the  youths  were  determined  to  regain  the  prop 
erty,  no  matter  what  danger  had  to  be  con 
fronted. 

But  the  common  sense  of  the  boys  told  them 
the  surest  way  to  defeat  their  resolve  was  to 
rush  off  blindly,  with  not  one  chance  in  a  thou 
sand  of  taking  the  right  course. 

"  Roswell,  that  gold  weighs  so  much  that  no 
one  and  no  two  men  could  carry  it  off,  unless 
they  made  several  journeys." 

"  Or  there  were  more  of  them  ;  they  would 
hardty  dare  return  after  one  visit." 


THE  TRAIL  INTO   TEE  MOUNTAINS.    201 

"  Why  not  ?  Hardman  (for  I  know  he  is  at 
the  bottom  of  the  business)  and  the  other  rogue 
have  been  watching  us  for  several  days.  They 
knew  that  when  we  left  here  in  the  morning 
we  would  not  come  back  till  night,  and  they 
had  all  the  time  they  needed  and  much  more. ' ' 

u  But  if  there  were  only  two,  they  would 
have  to  keep  doubling  their  journey,  and  I 
don't  believe  they  would  do  that.  Perhaps 
they  used  the  donkey. " 

"  Let's  find  out." 

The  burro  was  accustomed  to  graze  over  an 
area  several  acres  in  extent  and  enclosed  by 
walls  of  rocks.  Since  the  first-mentioned  brook 
ran  alongside,  the  indolent  creature  could  be 
counted  upon  to  remain  where  the  pasture  was 
succulent  and  abundant.  The  place  was  not 
far  off,  and  the  boys  hurried  thither. 

A  few  minutes  later  the  suggestive  fact  be 
came  apparent — the  donkey  was  gone. 

"  And  he  helped  take  the  gold  !"  was  the  ex 
clamation  of  Frank.  "  They  loaded  part  of  it 
on  his  back  and  carried  the  rest.  I  don't  believe 
they  are  far  off." 

It  was  certain  the  thieves  had  not  gone  in 
the  direction  of  the  diggings,  and  it  was  im- 


202  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

probable  that  they  would  attempt  to  reach 
Dawson  City,  at  least,  for  an  indefinite  time, 
for  they  must  have  known  that  Jeff  Graham 
and  Tim  McCabe  had  gone  thither,  and  that 
there  they  were  likely  to  be  seen  and  recognized. 
At  any  rate,  it  would  be  hard  for  them  to  get 
away  through  the  town  for  a  considerable  period, 
during  which  the  grim  old  miner  would  make 
things  warm  for  them. 

The  conclusion  of  the  boys,  therefore,  after 
briefly  debating  the  problem,  was  that  the  men 
had  turned  into  the  mountains.  These  stretched 
away  for  many  miles,  and  contained  hundreds 
of  places  where  they  would  be  safe  from  pur 
suit  by  a  regiment  of  men. 

"  But  if  they  took  the  burro,"  said  Eos  well, 
"  as  it  seems  certain  they  did,  they  must  have 
followed  some  kind  of  a  path  along  which  we 
can  pursue  them." 

"  Provided  we  can  find  it." 

They  were  too  much  stirred  to  remain  idle. 
Frank  led  the  way  to  the  corner  of  the  enclos 
ure  which  was  bisected  by  the  brook.  There 
the  moistened  ground  was  so  spongy  that  it 
would  disclose  any  footprint.  The  marks  made 
by  the  hoofs  of  the  burro  were  everywhere,  and 


THE    TELL-TALE    FOO'lTKINTS. 


THE  TRAIL  INTO   THE  MOUNTAINS.     206 

while  examining  what  seemed  to  be  the  fresh 
est,  Roswell  uttered  an  exclamation. 

"  What  is  it?"  asked  his  cousin,  hurrying 
to  his  side. 

"  Do  you  see  that?"  asked  the  other  in 
turn,  pointing  to  the  ground. 

There  were  the  distinct  impressions  of  a  pair 
of  heavy  shoes.  The  burro  had  been  loaded  at 
the  brook,  or  his  new  masters  had  allowed  him 
to  drink  before  starting  into  the  mountains. 

The  boys  took  several  minutes  to  study  the 
impressions,  which  appeared  in  a  number  of 
places.  The  inspection  brought  an  interesting 
truth  to  light.  One  set  of  imprints  was  large, 
and  the  right  shoe  or  boot  had  a  broken  patch 
on  the  sole,  which  showed  when  the  ground 
was  more  yielding  than  usual.  The  others 
were  noticeably  smaller,  and  the  toes  pointed 
almost  straight  forward,  like  those  of  an 
American  Indian.  A  minute  examination  of 
the  soil  failed  to  bring  any  other  peculiarity  to 
light.  The  conclusion,  therefore,  was  that  only 
two  men  were  concerned  in  the  robbery. 

The  problem  now  assumed  a  phase  which  de 
manded  brain  work,  and  the  youths  met  it  with 
a  skill  that  did  them  credit.  The  question  was  : 


206  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"If  the  burro  was  loaded  with  the  gold  at 
this  point,  or  if  he  was  brought  hither,  which 
amounts  to  the  same  thing,  where  did  he  and 
the  thieves  leave  the  enclosure  ?' ' 

Neither  of  the  boys  had  ever  felt  enough  in 
terest  in  the  animal  to  make  an  inspection  of 
his  pasturage  ground,  and  therefore  knew  noth 
ing  about  it,  but  scrutinizing  the  boundaries, 
they  fixed  upon  two  gaps  or  openings  on  the 
farther  side,  both  leading  deeper  into  the  moun 
tains,  one  of  which  they  believed  had  been 
used. 

"  Let's  try  the  nearest,"  said  Koswell,  lead 
ing  the  way  across  the  comparatively  level 
space. 

There  the  ground  was  higher,  fairly  dry  and 
gravelly.  A  close  scrutiny  failed  to  reveal  any 
signs  of  disturbance,  and  forced  them  to  con 
clude  that  some  other  outlet  had  been  taken. 
They  made  haste  to  the  second. 

This  was  drier  and  more  gravelly  than  the 
other.  While  the  soil  seemed  to  have  been 
disturbed,  they  could  not  make  sure  whether 
or  not  it  was  by  the  hoofs  of  an  animal,  but 
Frank  caught  sight  of  something  on  a  project 
ing  point  of  a  rock,  just  in  front.  Stepping  for- 


THE  TRAIL  INTO   THE  MOUNTAINS.     207 

ward,  he  plucked  it  off,  and  held  it  up  in  the 
light.  It  consisted  of  a  dozen  dark,  coarse 
hairs. 

"  That's  where  the  burro  scraped  against  the 
rock,"  he  said.  "  We  are  on  their  path." 

In  their  eagerness  they  would  have  kept  be 
side  each  other  had  not  the  passage  been  so 
narrow.  Often  they  came  to  places  where  one 
would  have  declared  it  impossible  for  a  mule  or 
donkey  to  make  his  way,  but  there  could  be  no 
question  that  the  property  of  Jeff  Graham  had 
done  it.  Frequently  he  slipped,  and  must  have 
come  near  falling,  but  he  managed  to  keep  for 
ward  with  his  precious  load. 

Less  than  two  hundred  yards  distant  the  pur 
suers  came  to  a  depression  of  the  soil  where  it 
was  damp,  and  the  footprints  of  the  donkey 
and  the  two  men  were  as  distinct  as  if  made  in 
putty.  There  could  be  no  question  that  the 
boys  were  on  the  trail  of  the  despoilers. 

As  they  advanced,  Frank,  who  was  in  ad 
vance;  frequently  turned  his  head  and  spoke  in 
guarded  tones  over  his  shoulder  to  his  cousin. 

"  They  are  pushing  into  the  mountains,"  said 
he,  "  but  there's  no  saying  how  far  they  are 
ahead  of  us. ' ' 


208  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  No  ;  if  they  made  the  start  early  in  the 
morning,  it  would  give  them  a  big  advantage. " 

"  I  believe  that  is  what  they  did,  knowing 
there  was  no  danger  of  our  returning  until 
night." 

"  That  knowledge  may  have  made  them  slow. 
Anyhow,  they  are  not  travelling  as  fast  as  we, 
and  we  must  overtake  them  before  long. ' ' 

A  few  minutes  later  Frank  asked  : 

14  Do  you  believe  they  have  thought  of  being 
followed?" 

"  They  must  know  there  is  danger  of  it. 
They  will  fight  to  keep  that  gold,  and  if  they 
get  the  first  sight  of  us  will  shoot." 

"  They  may  have  revolvers,  but  I  don't  be 
lieve  either  has  a  rifle.  We  will  keep  a  lookout 
that  we  don't  run  into  them  before  we  know  it 
and  give  them  the  advantage." 

This  dread  handicapped  the  boys  to  some  ex 
tent.  The  trail  was  not  distinctly  marked, 
often  winding  and  precipitous,  and  compelling 
them  to  halt  and  examine  the  ground  and  con 
sult  as  to  their  course. 

While  thus  engaged,  they  awoke  to  the  fact 
that  they  had  gone  astray  and  were  not  follow 
ing  the  trail  at  all. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A    SOUND    FROM    OUT    THE    STILLNESS. 

THE  error  occurred  in  this  way  :  The  trail 
that  the  boys  had  been  assiduously  following 
was  so  faintly  marked  that  the  wonder  was 
they  did  not  go  astray  sooner.  In  many  places, 
there  was  little  choice  as  to  the  route,  because 
it  was  so  broken  and  crossed  that  one  was  as 
distinct  as  the  other.  Nevertheless,  Frank 
pressed  on  with  scarcely  any  hesitation,  until 
he  again  reached  a  depression  where  the  soft 
ground  failed  to  show  the  slightest  impression 
of  shoe  or  hoof. 

"My  gracious!"  he  exclaimed,  stopping 
short  and  looking  at  his  companion  ;  "  how 
far  can  we  have  gone  wrong  ?" 

"We  can  find  out  only  by  returning,"  re 
plied  Roswell,  wheeling  about  and  leading  the 
way  back. 

They  walked  more  hurriedly  than  before,  as 


210  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

a  person  naturally  does  who  feels  that  time 
is  precious,  and  he  has  wasted  a  good  deal 
of  it. 

The  search  might  have  been  continued  for  a 
long  time  but  for  a  surprising  and  unexpected 
aid  that  came  to  them.  They  had  halted  at 
one  of  the  broken  places,  in  doubt  whither  to 
turn,  and  searching  for  some  sign  to  guide 
them,  when  Roswell  called  out  : 

"  That  beats  anything  I  ever  saw  !" 

As  he  spoke,  he  stooped  and  picked  up  some 
thing  from  the  ground.  Inspecting  it  for  a 
moment,  he  held  it  up  for  Frank  to  see.  It 
was  a  large  nugget  of  pure  gold. 

44  These  mountains  must  be  full  of  the  metal," 
said  Frank,  4t  when  we  find  it  lying  loose  like 
that." 

44  Not  so  fast,"  remarked  his  companion,  who 
had  taken  the  nugget  again,  and  was  turning 
it  over  and  examining  it  minutely.  "  Do  you 
remember  that  ?" 

On  one  of  the  faces  of  the  gold  something 
had  been  scratched  with  the  point  of  a  knife. 
While  the  work  was  inartistic,  it  was  easy  to 
make  out  the  letters  4t  F.  M." 

44 1  think  I  remember   that,"   said  Frank; 


A  SOUND  FROM  OUT  THE  STILLNESS.     211 

44  it  is  one  of  the  nuggets  I  found  yesterday, 
and  marked  it  with  my  initials.  Those  folks 
must  have  dropped  it. " 

There  could  be  no  doubt  of  it.  What  amaz 
ing  carelessness  for  a  couple  of  men  to  drop  a 
chunk  of  gold  worth  several  hundred  dollars 
and  not  miss  it  ! 

It  must  have  been  that  the  mouth  of  the  can 
vas  bag  containing  the  nuggets  had  become 
opened  in  some  way  to  the  extent  of  allowing 
a  single  one  to  fall  out. 

"  I  wonder  how  many  more  have  been  lost," 
mused  Frank,  as  he  put  the  specimen  in  his 
pocket. 

At  any  rate,  it  served  to  show  the  right  course 
to  follow,  and  the  boys  pressed  on,  looking 
more  for  nuggets  than  for  their  enemies.  The 
mishap  must  have  been  discovered  by  the  men 
in  time  to  prevent  its  repetition,  for  nothing  of 
the  kind  again  met  the  eyes  of  the  youths,  who 
once  more  gave  their  attention  to  hunting  for 
the  lawless  men  that  had  despoiled  them  of  so 
much  property. 

The  trail  steadily  ascended,  so  broken  and 
rough  that  it  was  a  source  of  constant  wonder 
ment  how  the  burro  was  able  to  keep  his  feet. 


212  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

He  must  have  had  some  experience  in  mountain 
climbing  before,  in  order  to  play  the  chamois  so 
well. 

The  boys  fancied  they  could  feel  the  change 
of  temperature  on  account  of  the  increased  ele 
vation.  They  knew  they  were  a  good  many 
feet  above  the  starting-point,  though  at  no  time 
were  they  able  to  obtain  a  satisfactory  view  of 
the  country  they  were  leaving  behind.  They 
seemed  to  be  continually  passing  in  and  out 
among  the  rocks  and  bowlders,  which  circum 
scribed  their  field  of  vision.  Considerable  pine 
and  hemlock  grew  on  all  sides,  but  as  yet  they 
encountered  no  snow.  There  was  plenty  of  it 
farther  up  and  beyond,  and  it  would  not  take 
them  long  to  reach  the  region  where  eternal 
winter  reigned. 

A  short  way  along  the  new  course,  and  they 
paused  before  another  break ;  but  although  the 
ground  was  dry  and  hard,  it  was  easy  to  follow 
the  course  of  the  burro,  whose  hoofs  told  the 
story;  and  though  nothing  served  to  indicate 
that  the  men  were  still  with  him,  the  fact  of 
the  three  being  in  company  might  be  set  down 
as  self-evident. 

It  would  not  be  dark  until  nearly  10  o'clock, 


A  SOUND  FROM  OUT  THE  STILLNESS.    213 

so  the  pursuers  still  had  a  goodly  number  of 
hours  before  them. 

A  peculiar  fact  annoyed  the  boys  more  than 
would  be  supposed.  The  trail  was  continually 
winding  in  and  out,  its  turns  so  numerous  that 
rarely  or  never  were  they  able  to  see  more  than 
a  few  rods  in  advance.  In  places  the  winding 
was  incessant.  The  uncertainty  as  to  how  far 
they  were  behind  the  donkey  and  the  men 
made  the  lads  fear  that  at  each  turn  as  they 
approached  it,  they  would  come  upon  the  party, 
who,  perhaps,  might  be  expecting  them,  and 
would  thus  take  them  unprepared.  The  dread 
of  something  like  this  often  checked  the  boys 
and  seriously  retarded  their  progress. 

4C  We  may  as  well  understand  one  thing," 
said  Frank,  as  they  halted  again  ;  ' '  you  have 
heard  Jeff  tell  about  getting  the  drop  on  a  man, 
Roswell?" 

"  Yes  ;  everybody  knows  what  that  means." 

44  Well,  neither  Mr.  Hardman,  nor  his  friend, 
nor  both  of  them  will  ever  get  the  drop  on  us. 1 ' 

The  flashing  eyes  and  determined  expression 
left  no  doubt  of  the  lad's  earnestness. 

44  Is  that  because  you  carry  a  Winchester  and 
they  have  only  their  revolvers  ?" 


214  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  It  would  make  no  difference  if  both  of  them 
had  rifles." 

Roswell  was  thoughtful. 

"It  is  very  well,  Frank,  to  be  brave,  but 
there's  nothing  gained  by  butting  your  head 
against  a  stone  wall.  Suppose,  now,  that,  in 
passing  the  next  bend  in  this  path,  you  should 
see  Hardman  waiting  for  you  with  his  gun 
aimed,  and  he  should  call  out  to  you  to  surren 
der,  what  would  you  do  ?" 

"  Let  fly  at  him  as  quickly  as  I  could  raise 
my  gun  to  a  level. " 

"And  he  would  shoot  before  you  could  do 
that." 

"I'll  take  the  chances,"  was  the  rash  re 
sponse. 

' '  I  hope  you  will  not  have  to  take  any 
chances  like  that — " 

They  were  talking  as  usual  in  low  tones,  and 
no  one  more  than  a  few  feet  away  could  have 
caught  the  murmur  of  their  voices,  but  while 
Roswell  was  uttering  his  words,  and  before  he 
could  complete  his  sentence,  the  two  heard  a 
sound,  so  faint  that  neither  could  guess  its 
nature. 

As  nearly  as  they  were  able  to  judge,  it  was 


WATCHING    AT   THE    TURN    IN    THE    TRAIL. 


A  SOUND  FROM  OUT  THE  STILLNESS.    217 

as  if  some  person,  in  walking,  had  struck  his  foot 
against  an  obstruction.  It  came  from  a  point 
in  front,  and  apparently  just  beyond  the  first 
bend  in  the  trail,  over  which  they  were  making 
their  way. 

"  We  are  nearer  to  them  than  we  suspected," 
whispered  Roswell. 

"  And  they  don't  know  it,  or  they  wouldn't 
have  betrayed  themselves  in  that  manner." 

"  It  isn't  safe  to  take  that  for  granted." 

KosNvell,  after  the  last  change  in  their  course, 
was  at  the  front.  Frank  now  quietly  moved 
beyond  him,  Winchester  in  hand,  and  ready  for 
whatever  might  come.  Confident  they  were 
close  upon  the  men  they  sought,  he  was  glad  of 
the  misstep  that  had  warned  them  of  the  fact. 

There  certainly  could  be  no  excuse  now  for 
Hardman  and  his  companion  securing  the  ad 
vantage  over  the  boys,  when  one  of  them  held 
his  Winchester  half  raised  to  his  shoulder  and 
ready  to  fire. 

Within  a  couple  of  paces  of  the  turn  in  the 
trail  the  two  were  almost  lifted  off  their  feet 
by  a  sound  that  burst  from  the  stillness,  startling 
enough  to  frighten  the  strongest  man.  It  was 
the  braying  of  the  burro,  not  fifty  feet  distant. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

A    TURNING    OF   THE   TABLES. 

THE  boys  were  in  no  doubt  as  to  the  author 
of  this  startling  break  in  the  mountain  stillness. 
It  was  their  own  burro  that  had  given  out  the 
unearthly  roar,  and  they  were  confident  of  be 
ing  close  upon  the  trail  of  the  two  men  who 
were  making  off  with  the  gold.  But  a  moment 
later,  round  the  corner  in  front  of  them,  the 
donkey's  head  came  into  view,  his  long  ears 
flapping,  as  if  training  themselves  for  the  fight 
with  mosquitoes  that  would  soon  come.  The 
animal  was  walking  slowly,  but  the  astonishing- 
fact  immediately  appeared  that  he  was  not  only 
without  any  load  on  his  back,  but  was  unac 
companied  by  either  Hardman  or  his  confed 
erate. 

Suspecting,  however,  they  were  close  behind 
him,  the  boys  held  their  places,  the  foremost 
still  on  the  alert  for  the  criminals.  The  burro 
came  forward  until  within  a  rod,  when  he 


A   TURNING   OF  THE  TABLES.         219 

seemed  to  become  aware  for  the  first  time  of 
the  presence  of  the  youths  in  his  path.  He 
halted,  twiddled  his  rabbit-like  ears,  looked  at 
the  two,  and  then  opened  his  mouth.  The 
flexible  lips  fluttered  and  vibrated  with  a  second 
tremendous  bray,  which  rolled  back  and  forth 
among  the  mountains,  the  wheezing  addendum 
more  penetrating  than  the  first  part  of  the  out 
burst. 

As  the  animal  showed  a  disposition  to  con 
tinue  his  advance,  the  boys  stepped  aside  and 
he  came  slowly  forward,  as  if  in  doubt  whether 
he  was  doing  a  prudent  thing  ;  but  he  kept  on, 
and,  passing  both,  continued  down  the  trail, 
evidently  anxious  to  return  to  his  pasturage. 

"  What  does  it  mean  ?"  asked  Eoswell. 

( '  I  have  no  idea,  unless—' ' 

-What?" 

4 'They  can't  make  any  further  use  of  the 
burro,  and  have  allowed  him  to  go  home." 

44  But  they  can't  carry  away  all  the  gold." 

44  Then  they  are  burying  it.  Let's  hurry  on, 
or  we  shall  be  too  late." 

Lowering  his  Winchester,  Frank  led  the  way 
up  the  trail,  slackening  his  pace  as  he  reached 
the  bend,  and  partly  raising  his  weapon  again. 


220  KLONDIKE  NUOQET8. 

Rocks  and  bowlders  were  all  around,  but  the 
trail  still  showed,  and  the  donkey  could  have 
travelled  indefinitely  forward,  so  far  as  the  boys 
could  see.  Nowhere  was  anything  detected  of 
the  two  men. 

"  They  may  have  turned  the  burro  loose  a 
half  mile  off, "  said  Frank,  chagrined  and  disap 
pointed  beyond  expression. 

His  companion  warned  him  to  be  careful,  as 
he  began  pushing  forward  at  a  reckless  rate,  as 
if  fearful  that  the  men  would  get  away  after  all. 

Just  beyond  the  point  where  the  burro  had 
appeared  the  path  forked,  each  course  being 
equally  distinct.  The  boys  scrutinized  the 
ground,  but  could  not  decide  from  what  direc 
tion  the  animal  had  come.  Had  they  possessed 
the  patience,  they  might  have  settled  the  ques 
tion  by  kneeling  down  and  making  their  scrutiny 
more  minute;  but  Frank  could  not  wait. 

"  I'll  take  the  right,"  he  said,  "  while  you 
follow  the  left.  If  you  discover  either  of  them, 
shoot  and  shout  for  me." 

It  may  be  doubted  whether  this  was  wise 
counsel,  and  Eoswell  did  not  feel  himself  bound 
by  it,  but  he  acted  at  once  upon  the  sugges 
tion.  His  weapon  was  in  his  grasp  as  he  hur- 


A   TURNING   OF  THE  TABLES.          221 

ried  over  the  path,  and  the  cousins  were  quickly 
lost  to  each  other. 

The  inspiring  incentive  to  both  boys  was  the 
dread  that  they  were  too  late  to  recover  the 
gold  that  had  been  stolen.  Since  its  weight 
was  too  great  for  a  couple  of  men  to  carry,  the 
natural  presumption  was  that  they  had  buried 
or  would  bury  it  in  some  secure  place,  and  re 
turn  when  it  was  safe  to  take  it  away. 

Because  of  this,  Roswell  Palmer  sharply 
scrutinized  every  part  of  his  field  of  vision  as 
it  opened  before  him.  There  were  numerous 
breaks  in  the  path  which  permitted  him  to 
look  over  a  space  of  several  rods,  and  again  he 
could  not  see  six  feet  from  him. 

Reaching  an  earthy  part  of  the  trail,  he 
leaned  over  and  studied  it.  There  was  no  sign 
of  a  hoof  or  footprint. 

44  The  burro  did  not  come  this  far,"  was  his 
conclusion  ;  "  I  am  wasting  time  by  wander 
ing  from  Frank." 

He  was  in  doubt  whether  to  turn  or  to  ad 
vance  farther.  He  had  paused  among  the 
bowlders,  where  little  was  visible,  and,  con 
vinced  of  his  mistake,  he  shoved  his  weapon 
back  in  his  pocket,  so  as  to  give  him  the  freer 


222  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

use  of  his  hands,  and  turned  back  over  the  trail 
along  which  he  had  just  come. 

He  had  not  taken  a  dozen  steps  when  he 
was  checked  by  the  most  startling  summons 
that  could  come  to  him.  It  was  a§gruff  ' '  Hands 
up,  younker  !" 

It  will  be  recalled  that  Roswell  was  less  head 
strong  than  his  cousin,  as  he  now  demonstrated 
by  his  prompt  obedience  to  the  command,  which 
came  from  an  immense  rock  at  the  side  of  the 
path,  partly  behind  him. 

Having  elevated  his  hands,  the  youth  turned 
to  look  at  his  master.  One  glance  at  the  coun 
tenance  was  sufficient.  He  was  the  individual 
whom  Frank  had  seen  secretly  talking  with 
Hardman  on  the  boat  that  carried  them  from 
the  head  to  the  foot  of  Lake  Lindeman,  and 
whom  both  had  seen  on  the  day  of  their  arrival 
in  this  neighborhood. 

Roswell  Palmer  now  displayed  a  quickness  of 
wit  that  would  have  done  credit  to  an  older 
head.  His  revolver  he  had  placed  in  a  pocket 
on  the  side  of  him  that  was  turned  away  from 
the  man,  and  it  will  be  remembered  that  the 
lad  had  placed  it  there  before  receiving  the 
peremptory  summons  to  surrender.  In  the 


HANDS    Ul>,    YOUNKKK  !" 


A   TURNING   OF  THE  TABLES.         225 

hope  that  his  captor  was  not  aware  that  he 
carried  any  firearms,  Roswell  kept  that  part  of 
his  body  farthest  from  him. 

The  man  was  standing  at  the  side  of  the  rock 
with  a  similar  weapon  in  his  grasp,  and  showed 
that  he  was  elated  over  the  clever  manner  in 
which  he  had  gotten  the  best  of  the  youth. 
His  own  weapon  was  not  pointed  at  him,  but 
held  so  that  it  could  be  raised  and  used  on  the 
instant. 

44  What  do  you  mean  by  treating  me  thus 
when  I  am  walking  peaceably  through  the 
mountains,  offering  harm  to  no  one  ?"  asked 
Eoswell  with  an  injured  air. 

44  What  are  you  doing  here  anyway?"  de 
manded  the  other,  whose  unpleasant  face  indi 
cated  that  he  did  not  fully  grasp  the  situation. 

44  My  friend  and  I  set  out  to  look  for  some 
men  that  have  stolen  our  gold.  Have  you  seen 
them  ?" 

This  sounded  as  if  the  boy  had  no  suspicion 
of  the  fellow  before  him,  and  taking  his  cue 
therefrom,  he  said  : 

44  No  ;  I  don't  know  anything  about  it. 
Did  they  jump  your  claim  ?" 

4i  We  had  the  gold  among  the  rocks  where 


226  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

we  live,  but  when  we  came  home  to-day, 
we  found  that  some  persons  had  been  there  and 
taken  it  all." 

Something  seemed  to  strike  the  man  as  very 
amusing.  He  broke  into  laughter. 

"  You  can  put  down  your  hands,  my  son,  if 
you're  getting  tired." 

"  You  won't  shoot?"  asked  Roswell  in  pre 
tended  alarm. 

"  Not  much,"  replied  the  other,  with  a 
laugh  ;  "I  haven't  a  charge  in  my  weapon 
nor  a  single  cartridge  with  me;  but  all  the 
same,  I'll  keep  an  eye  on  you." 

"  Not  doubting  your  word,  I  have  to  inform 
you  that  my  pistol  is  loaded,  and  I  now  shall 
take  charge  of  you." 

As  he  spoke,  Eos  well  produced  his  weapon, 
and  the  other  was  at  his  mercy. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

A    LION    IN    THE    PATH. 

To  put  it  mildly,  the  man  was  astonished. 
Not  dreaming  the  boy  was  armed,  he  had  been 
foolish  enough  to  announce  that  he  had  brought 
him  to  terms  by  the  display  of  a  useless  weapon. 
He  stared  in  amazement  at  Eos  well,  and  then 
elevated  both  hands.  The  boy  laughed. 

"  You  needn't  do  that  ;  I  am  not  afraid  of 
you.  If  you  will  lead  me  to  the  spot  where 
you  and  Hardman  hid  our  gold,  I  will  set  you 
free." 

11 1  don't  know  anything  about  your  gold," 
whimpered  the  fellow,  who  now  proved  himself 
a  coward.  4t  I  was  only  joking  with  you." 

"  You  and  he  took  it.  I  shall  hold  you  a 
prisoner  until  my  friend  comes  up,  and  then 
turn  you  over  to  the  mounted  police.1 ' 

44  All  right  ;  if  it  is  a  square  deal,  follow 
me." 

He  turned  and  darted  behind  the  rock.     The 


228  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

youth  made  after  him,  but  when  he  came  in 
sight  of  the  fugitive  again  he  was  fifty  feet  dis 
tant,  and  running  like  a  deer.  Perhaps  Eos- 
well  might  have  winged  him,  but  he  did  not 
try  to  do  so.  He  felt  a  natural  repugnance  to 
doing  a  thing  of  that  nature,  and  the  fact  was 
self-evident  that  it  would  do  no  good.  The 
man  would  sturdily  insist  that  he  knew  nothing 
of  the  missing  gold,  and  there  could  be  no 
actual  proof  that  he  did.  Had  he  been  held  a 
prisoner  he  might  have  been  forced  to  terms, 
but  it  was  too  late  now  to  think  of  that,  and 
the  youth  stood  motionless  and  saw  him  dis 
appear  among  the  rocks. 

"  I  wonder  how  Frank  has  made  out,"  was 
his  thought.  "  He  can't  have  done  worse 
than  I." 

Meanwhile,  young  Mansley  had  no  idle  time 
on  his  hands.  He  had  hurried  up  the  fork  of 
the  trail,  after  parting  with  his  companion, 
until  he  had  passed  about  the  same  distance. 
The  two  paths,  although  diverging,  did  not  do 
so  to  the  extent  the  boys  thought,  and  thus  it 
came  about  that  they  were  considerably  nearer 
each  other  than  they  supposed. 

It  need  not  be  said  that  Frank  was  on  the 


A   LION  JxV  THE  PATH.  229 

alert.  Suspecting  he  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
men  for  whom  they  were  searching,  he  paid  no 
attention  to  the  ground,  but  glanced  keenly  to 
the  right  and  left,  and  even  behind  him.  He 
was  thus  engaged  when  something  moved  be 
side  a  craggy  mass  of  rocks  a  little  way  ahead 
and  slightly  to  the  right  of  the  path  he  was 
following.  A  second  look  showed  the  object 
to  be  a  man,  and  though  his  back  was  toward 
the  lad,  his  dress  and  general  appearance  left 
little  doubt  that  he  was  Hardman. 

His  attitude  was  that  of  listening.  His 
shoulders  were  thrown  slightly  forward,  and 
he  gave  a  quick  flirt  of  his  head,  which  brought 
his  profile  for  the  moment  into  view.  This  re 
moved  all  doubt  as  to  his  identity.  It  was  Ike 
Hardman. 

Frank's  first  thought  was  that  he  was  stand 
ing  near  the  spot  where  the  gold  had  been 
secreted,  and  was  looking  around  to  make  sure 
no  one  saw  him,  but  it  may  have  been  he  heard 
something  of  the  movements  of  his  confederate 
that  had  escaped  Roswell  Palmer. 

Afraid  of  being  detected,  Frank  crouched 
behind  the  nearest  bowlder,  but  was  a  second 
too  late.  Hardman  had  observed  him,  and 


230  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

was  off  like  a  flash.  To  Frank's  amazement, 
when  he  looked  for  him  he  was  gone. 

Determined  not  to  lose  him,  the  youth  ran 
forward  as  fast  as  the  nature  of  the  ground 
would  permit.  Beaching  the  spot  where  he 
had  first  discovered  the  man,  he  glanced  at  the 
surroundings,  but  could  see  nothing  to  indicate 
that  the  gold  had  been  hidden  anywhere  near, 
though  the  probabilities  pointed  to  such  being 
the  fact,  for  it  must  have  been  in  that  vicinity 
that  the  burro  was  turned  free. 

But  the  boy  felt  the  necessity  of  bringing  the 
man  himself  to  terms,  and  with  scarcely  a  halt 
he  hurried  over  the  bowlders  and  around  the 
rocks  in  what  he  believed  to  be  the  right  direc 
tion,  though  he  had  no  certain  knowledge  that 
such  was  the  fact. 

He  was  still  clambering  forward,  panting, 
impatient,  and  angry,  when  a  figure  suddenly 
came  to  view  a  little  way  in  advance.  Frank 
abruptly  stopped  and  brought  his  gun  to  a  level, 
but  before  he  could  aim  he  perceived  to  his 
amazement  that  it  was  his  cousin  Roswell  stand 
ing  motionless  and  looking  with  wonderment 
around  him.  A  moment  later  the  two  came 
together  and  hastily  exchanged  experiences. 


WE     HAVE     MADE    A     MESS    OF     IT,"     WAS     THE     DISGUSTED 
COMMENT    OF    FRANK. 


A  LION  IN  THE  PATH.  233 

"  We  have  made  a  mess  of  it,"  was  the  dis 
gusted  comment  of  Frank,  i  i  for  we  had  them 
both  and  let  them  get  away." 

"  All  the  same  we  must  be  near  the  spot 
where  the  gold  was  hidden,  and  I  believe  we 
can  find  it  by  searching." 

"  We  may,  but  the  chances  are  a  hundred  to 
one  against  it.  How  strange  that  those  two 
men  carried  no  firearms  !" 

It  has  been  shown  that  the  Klondike  country 
is  not  one  of  dangerous  weapons,  because  it  is 
well  governed,  and  the  necessity,  therefore, 
does  not  exist  for  men  to  go  about  armed. 
Many  of  them  unquestionably  carry  pistols,  but 
larger  weapons  are  few,  and  the  majority  have 
neither,  for  they  only  serve  as  incumbrances. 
Strange,  therefore,  as  it  may  seem,  Hard  man 
and  his  companion  had  but  a  single  revolver 
between  them,  and  the  man  who  carried  that 
spoke  the  truth  when  he  said  all  its  chambers 
were  empty  and  he  was  without  the  means  of 
loading  it. 

The  great  oversight  of  the  two  was  that 
when  they  entered  the  cavern  and  took  away 
the  gold,  they  left  the  Winchester  and  re 
volvers.  This  may  have  been  due  to  their 


234  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

eagerness  to  carry  off  every  ounce  of  gold,  but 
the  commonest  prudence  would  have  suggested 
that  they  "  spike"  the  weapons,  so  as  to  pre 
vent  their  being  used  against  them. 

A  brief  consultation  caused  the  boys  to  de 
cide  to  return  to  the  cavern  and  await  the  re 
turn  of  their  friends.  Then  the  whole  party 
could  take  up  the  search,  though  it  seemed 
almost  hopeless. 

Disheartened,  they  started  down  the  trail, 
Frank  in  advance  and  both  silent,  for  their 
thoughts  were  too  depressing  for  expression. 
Suddenly  the  leader  stopped  and  raised  his  hand 
for  his  companion  to  do  the  same.  The  cause 
was  apparent,  for  at  that  moment,  in  rounding 
a  bend  in  the  path,  they  saw  Ike  Hardman  in 
front,  moving  stealthily  in  the  same  direction 
with  themselves,  but  the  rogue  was  watchful 
and  caught  sight  of  them  at  the  same  moment. 
As  before,  he  was  off  like  an  arrow,  the  wind 
ing  trail  allowing  him  to  pass  from  sight  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  as  may  be  said. 

Before  they  could  take  up  the  pursuit  a  great 
commotion  broke  out  below  them,  and  wonder 
ing  what  it  could  mean,  the  boys  stopped  to 
listen.  It  immediately  became  apparent  that 


A  LION  IN  THE  PATH.  235 

the  fugitive  had  come  in  collision  with  some 
,  one  approaching  from  the  other  direction  over 
the  trail,  and  that  same  person  was  gifted 
with  a  vigorous  voice  of  which  he  was  making 
free  use. 

"  Ah,  but  ye  are  the  spalpeen  I've  been  look 
ing  fur  !  This  is  the  way  ye  sittle  up  fur  the 
money  ye  tuk  from  me  !  Mister  Hardman,  do 
your  bist,  for  that's  what  I'm  going  to  do.  Do 
ye  hear  me  ?" 

44  It's  Tim  !"  exclaimed  Roswell  ;  "  let's 
hurry  to  his  help  !" 

But  Frank  caught  his  arm. 

44  It's  the  other  fellow  who  needs  help,  and 
Tim  will  take  it  as  unkind  for  us  to  interfere, 
but  we  can  look  on." 

And  they  hurried  forward. 


CHAPTEE   XXIII. 

A    GENERAL    SETTLEMENT    OF    ACCOUNTS. 

QUICK  as  were  the  boys  in  hurrying  to  the 
point  where  they  heard  the  indignant  Tim, 
they  did  not  reach  it  until  the  affray  was  over. 
Wholly  subdued,  Ike  Hardman  begged  for 
mercy  at  the  hands  of  his  conqueror,  and  prom 
ised  to  do  anything  desired  if  he  received  con 
sideration. 

It  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the  wrath  of  a 
good-natured  person  is  more  to  be  feared  than 
his  who  is  of  less  equable  temperament.  The 
boys  had  never  seen  Tim  McCabe  in  so  danger 
ous  a  mood.  He  and  Jeff  Graham  had  returned 
to  the  cavern  shortly  after  the  departure  of 
the  cousins  in  pursuit  of  the  thieves,  and  it  did 
not  take  them  long  to  understand  what  had 
occurred.  They  set  out  over  the  same  trail, 
along  which  they  readily  discovered  the  foot 
prints  of  all  the  parties.  Tim,  in  his  angry  im 
patience,  outsped  his  more  stolid  companion, 


A  GENERAL  SETTLEMENT  OF  ACCOUNTS.    237 

and  by  good  fortune  came  upon  Hardman  while 
in  headlong  flight  down  the  mountain  path. 

The  latter  tried  for  a  time  to  make  it  appear 
that  he  knew  nothing  of  the  abstraction  of  the 
gold  from  the  cavern,  but  Tim  would  have 
none  of  it,  and  gave  him  the  choice  of  conduct 
ing  them  to  the  place  where  it  was  concealed 
or  of  undergoing  "  capital  punishment."  Like 
the  poltroon  that  he  was,  Hardman  insisted 
that  his  companion,  Victor  Ilerzog,  was  the 
real  wrongdoer,  but  he  offered  to  do  what  was 
demanded,  only  imploring  that  he  should  not  be 
harmed  for  his  evil  acts. 

Tim  extended  his  hand  and  took  the  Win 
chester  from  Frank  Mansley.  He  knew  it  was 
loaded,  and  he  said  to  his  prisoner  : 

u  Lead  on,  and  if  ye  think  it  will  pay  ye  to 
try  to  git  away  or  play  any  of  yer  tricks,  why 
try  it,  that's  all  !" 

The  threat  was  sufficient  to  banish  all  hope 
from  Hardman,  who  led  them  along  the  trail  a 
short  way,  then  turned  on  to  the  pile  of  rocks 
beside  which  Frank  had  seen  him  standing  a 
short  time  before. 

"  There  it  is  !"  he  said,  with  an  apprehen 
sive  glance  at  his  captor. 


238  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

"  Where?"  thundered  Tim  ;  "I  don't  see 
it  !" 

No  digging  had  been  done  by  the  criminals, 
but  a  bowlder  had  been  rolled  aside,  the  canvas 
bags  dropped  into  the  opening,  and  the  stone 
replaced,  as  he  quickly  demonstrated. 

"  Count  'em,  Koswell,"  said  Tim. 

Both  boys  leaned  over,  and  moving  the 
heavy  sacks  about  so  as  not  to  miss  one,  an 
nounced  that  all  were  there. 

"  And  now  I  s'pose  I  may  go,"  whined 
Hard  man. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it.  I  won't  make  a  target  of 
ye  fer  this  gun,  but  ye  shall  remain  me  prisoner 
till  I  turn  ye  over  to  the  police." 

Thereupon  Hardman  begged  so  piteously 
that  the  boys  interceded  and  asked  that  he  be 
allowed  to  go,  but  Tim  sternly  bade  them  hold 
their  peace.  The  bowlder  having  been  re 
placed,  while  he  glanced  around  to  fix  the  local 
ity  in  his  memory,  he  ordered  the  captive  to 
precede  him  down  the  trail,  reminding  him  at 
the  same  time  that  the  first  attempt  on  his 
part  to  escape  would  be  followed  by  the  instant 
discharge  of  the  gun. 

Thus,  as  the  long  afternoon  drew  to  a  close 


A  GENERAL  SETTLEMENT  OF  ACCOUNTS.    239 

the  strange  procession  wound  its  way  down  the 
mountain,  the  prisoner  in  front,  his  captors 
directly  behind,  with  Frank  and  Koswell  bring 
ing  up  the  rear.  The  boys  talked  in  whispers, 
but  said  nothing  to  their  friend,  who  was  in 
such  a  stern  mood  that  they  shrank  from  speak 
ing  to  him. 

They  speculated  as  to  the  fate  of  Herzog,  the 
other  criminal,  who  seemed  to  have  effected  his 
escape,  but  recalled  that  Jeff  Graham  was  likely 
to  be  met  somewhere  along  the  path,  and  it 
might  be  that  this  had  occurred  with  disastrous 
results  to  the  evil  fellow,  for  it  will  be  remem 
bered  that  the  old  miner  was  one  of  the 
few  who  always  carried  their  revolvers  with 
them. 

The  expectation  of  the  boys  was  not  disap 
pointed.  When  about  half  way  down  the  trail 
they  came  upon  Jeff,  who  had  his  man  secure, 
thanks  to  the  good  fortune  which  gave  him  an 
advantage  of  which  he  instantly  availed  himself. 

Eoswell  and  Frank  thought  that  when  Jeff 
learned  that  all  the  stolen  gold  had  been  recov 
ered  he  would  be  willing  to  release  the  pris 
oners,  but  such  intention  was  as  far  from  him 
as  from  Tim  McCabe.  While  he  had  no  desire 


240  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

for  revenge,  he  felt  it  would  be  wrong  to  set 
the  evil-doers  free,  and  he  knew  that  they 
would  receive  the  punishment  they  had  well 
earned  as  soon  as  placed  within  the  power  of 
the  law. 

It  was  beginning  to  grow  dark  when  the 
party  reached  their  cabin.  Just  before  reaching 
it  they  crossed  the  pasturage  ground  of  the 
burro,  who  was  seen  quietly  browsing,  as  if  he 
had  not  taken  any  part  and  felt  no  interest  in 
the  proceedings  of  the  afternoon. 

Halting  in  front  of  the  opening,  Jeff  said  to 
Tim  : 

"  You  have  the  gun  and  know  it's  a  re 
peater." 

The  Irishman  nodded  his  head. 

"  Keep  guard  over  these  fellows  till  I  come 
back;  it  won't  belong." 

"  I'll  do  the  same — on  that  ye  may  depind. " 

The  massive  figure  swung  off  in  the  gloom. 
He  gave  no  intimation  of  whither  he  was 
going,  and  no  one  could  guess,  except  that  he 
promised  shortly  to  return. 

A  few  minutes  after  his  departure,  both  Hard- 
man  and  Herzog  renewed  their  pleadings  for 
mercy— for  at  least  they  suspected  the  cause  of 


A  GENERAL  SETTLEMENT  OF  ACCOUNTS.    243 

the  old  miner's  departure— but  Tim  checked 
them  so  promptly  that  they  held  their  peace. 

At  his  suggestion,  the  boys  started  a  fire  and 
began  preparing  supper.  They  had  hardly 
completed  the  task  when  Jeff  Graham  reap 
peared  and  he  brought  two  companions  with 
him.  Though  they  were  on  foot,  they  were 
members  of  the  mounted  police,  whose  horses 
were  but  a  short  distance  away.  In  the  dis 
charge  of  their  duties,  they  were  on  a  tour 
among  the  diggings  to  learn  whether  there  was 
any  call  for  their  services.  Jeff  had  seen  them 
during  the  afternoon,  and  knew  where  to  look 
for  them. 

There  was  no  nonsense  about  those  sturdy 
fellows.  They  made  their  living  by  compelling 
obedience  to  the  laws  of  their  country,  and 
were  always  prepared  to  do  their  duty.  At 
the  suggestion  of  Jeff,  they  questioned  the  men, 
who  admitted  their  guilt,  supplementing  the 
confession  with  another  appeal  for  clemency. 
Without  deigning  a  reply,  the  officers  slipped 
handcuffs  upon  them,  and  declining  the  invita 
tion  to  remain  to  supper,  departed  with  their 
prisoners,  whom  they  delivered  to  the  authori 
ties  at  Dawson  City  on  the  following  day. 


244  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

Since  they  had  admitted  their  guilt,  our  friends 
were  not  required  to  appear  as  witnesses,  and 
the  case  may  be  closed  by  the  statement  that 
Hardman  and  Herzog  received  the  full  punish 
ment  which  they  deserved. 

When  the  evening  meal  was  finished,  the  men 
and  boys  remained  outside  in  the  cool,  clear 
air,  the  former  smoking  their  pipes,  and  all  dis 
cussing  the  stirring  events  of  the  day.  The 
boys  confessed  their  neglect  in  failing  to  make 
known  the  presence  of  Herzog  in  the  neighbor 
hood,  because  the  fact  was  driven  from  their 
minds  by  their  excitement  over  the  discovery 
of  gold. 

"Had  we  done  as  we  ought, "said  Frank, 
"  it  isn't  likely  this  would  have  happened." 

"You  are  right,"  replied  Jeff,  "for  we 
should  have  been  more  watchful." 

"  And  wasn't  it  oursilves  that  was  careless, 
anyway,  in  laying  so  much  wilth  where  any 
one  could  git  at  the  same  ?"  asked  Tim. 

"  Yes,"  admitted  the  old  miner,  "  but  things 
are  different  here  from  what  they  was  in  the 
early  days  in  Californy,  and  you  can  see  that 
these  two  men  are  the  only  ones  that  would 
steal  our  stuff." 


A  GENERA  L  SETTLEMENT  OF  A  CCO  UNTS.    245 

"  At  prisint  they  saam  to  be  the  only  ones, 
but  we  can't  be  sure  that  ithers  wouldn't  have 
tried  to  do  the  same." 

"  Well,  boys,"  was  the  surprising  announce 
ment  of  Jeff  Graham,  ' '  to-morrow  we  leave 
this  place  for  good  and  take  the  next  steamer 
down  the  Yukon  for  home  ;  our  hunt  for  gold 
is  done  '." 


CHAPTEE   XXIV. 

CONCLUSION. 

THERE  was  little  sleep  that  night  in  the  cav 
ern  home  of  the  gold-seekers.  The  fact  that 
the  whole  crop  of  the  precious  stuff  was  the 
better  part  of  a  mile  away  in  the  mountains, 
even  though  apparently  safe,  caused  every  one 
to  feel  uneasy.  In  addition  was  the  announce 
ment  of  Jeif  Graham,  the  leader,  that  their 
work  in  the  Klondike  region  was  ended.  In 
keeping  with  his  habit  of  making  known  only 
that  which  was  necessary,  he  gave  no  explana 
tion,  and  his  friends  were  left  to  speculate  and 
surmise  among  themselves.  All,  however, 
suspected  the  truth. 

At  early  dawn  Tim  McCabe  and  the  boys 
started  up  the  trail,  leading  the  burro.  The 
old  miner  remained  behind,  saying  that  he  ex 
pected  company  and  his  help  was  not  needed 
in  recovering  the  pilfered  gold.  The  anxiety 
of  the  men  and  boys  did  not  lessen  until  they 


CONCLUSION.  247 

reached  the  well-remembered  spot  and  found 
the  canvas  bags  intact.  They  were  carefully 
loaded  upon  the  strong  back  of  the  animal, 
secured  in  place,  and  the  homeward  journey 
begun.  Frank  and  Roswell  walked  at  the 
rear,  to  make  sure  none  of  the  gold  was  lost. 
In  due  time  they  reached  their  primitive  home, 
with  all  their  wealth  in  hand. 

To  their  surprise,  Jeff  was  absent.  The  re 
cent  experience  of  the  three  confirmed  them 
in  their  resolution  not  to  leave  the  nuggets  and 
dust  unguarded  for  a  single  hour.  While  some 
were  at  work  in  the  diggings,  one  at  least  would 
be  at  the  cavern  on  the  watch  against  dishonest 
visitors.  It  was  agreed  that  Tim  and  Roswell 
should  go  to  the  little  valley  to  resume  work, 
while  Frank  with  the  Winchester  and  smaller 
weapon  acted  as  sentinel. 

As  the  two  were  on  the  point  of  setting  out, 
Jeff  Graham  appeared  with  two  well-dressed 
gentlemen,  both  in  middle  life.  They  were 
talking  earnestly,  and  halted  just  beyond  ear 
shot  to  complete  what  they  had  to  say.  Then, 
without  waiting  to  be  introduced  to  Jeff's 
friends,  they  bade  him  good-day,  and  hurried 
down  the  path  to  where  their  horses  were  wait- 


248  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

ing,  and  lost  no  time  in  returning  to  Dawson 
City. 

"Get  ready  to  f oiler,"  was  the  curt  com 
mand  of  Jeff;  and  within  the  following  hour 
the  whole  party,  including  the  donkey,  were  on 
the  road.  They  were  compelled  to  spend  one 
of  the  short  nights  in  camp,  but  reached  Daw- 
son  City  without  the  slightest  molestation  from 
any  one  or  the  loss  of  a  dollar's  worth  of  gold. 
As  Jeff  had  announced  his  intention,  they 
brought  away  only  their  auriferous  harvest  and 
such  clothing  as  was  on  their  bodies.  At  the 
hotel  he  held  another  long  interview  with  the 
two  gentlemen  who  had  called  on  him  at  the 
diggings ;  and  the  first  steamer  down  the  Yukon, 
which  was  now  fairly  open,  bore  among  its 
hundreds  of  passengers  Jeff  Graham,  Tim 
McCabe,  Eoswell  Palmer,  and  Frank  Mansley. 
The  combined  gold  of  the  fortunate  passengers 
on  that  trip  must  have  amounted  to  nearly  a 
million  dollars. 

Some  weeks  later  Jeff  and  Tim  were  seated 
alone  in  one  of  the  rooms  at  the  Palace  Hotel, 
San  Francisco.  They  had  met  by  appointment 
to  close  up  the  business  which  had  taken  them 
into  the  Klondike  region. 


CONCLUSION.  249 

"You  know,  Tim,"  said  the  old  miner, 
"  that  this  whole  thing  was  my  own." 

Tim  nodded  his  head. 

14  I  was  aware  of  the  same  before  ye  men 
tioned  it.  Ye  paid  all  our  ixpenses  like  a  gintle- 
man,  and  we're  entitled  to  fair  wages  for  hilp- 
ing  and  no  more." 

The  generous  disavowal  of  all  claim  to  a 
share  in  the  rich  find  touched  Jeff,  who  hastened 
to  say  : 

44  Some  folks  might  think  that  way,  but  I 
don't.  It  was  a  speculation  on  my  part.  It 
didn't  cost  much  to  get  us  to  the  Klondike,  and 
so  that  don't  count.  I  have  delivered  to  the 
mint  all  the  gold  we  brought  back,  and  have 
been  paid  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
dollars  for  it.  You  know  what  was  done  by 
the  two  men  that  visited  us  at  the  diggings  ?" 

4 '  The  byes  and  mesilf  had  the  idea  that  they 
bought  out  your  claim." 

44  That's  it.  I  was  anxious  to  get  out  of  the 
country  before  the  summer  fairly  set  in  and  the 
mosquitoes  ate  us  up  alive.  From  the  way  the 
dirt  panned  out,  we  should  have  been  million 
aires  in  a  few  weeks,  but  we  had  enough. 
There  ain't  many  men  as  know  when  they  have 


250  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

enough,"  was  the  philosophical  observation  of 
Jeff.  "  I  do,  so  I  sold  my  claim  for  a  hundred 
and  eighty  thousand  dollars.  As  I  figure  out, 
that  makes  the  total  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  which,  divided  among  us  four,  gives 
each  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.  How  does 
that  strike  you,  Tim?" 

' '  It  almost  knocks  me  off  my  chair,  if  you 
mean  it. ' ' 

"  The  boys  being  under  age,  I  have  turned 
over  their  shares  to  their  parents  ;  and  do  you 
know,"  added  Jeff,  with  an  expression  of  dis 
gust,  "they  both  fixed  things  so  as  to  goto 
college  ?  You  wouldn't  believe  it,  but  it's  the 
fact.  Howsumever,  it's  their  business,  and  I 
ain't  saying  anything.  Say,  Tim,  you  hain't 
any  idea  of  going  to  college?"  asked  Jeff, 
looking  across  at  his  friend  with  a  startled  ex 
pression. 

u  I  won't  unless  ye  will  go  wid  me.  How 
does  that  strike  ye  ?" 

Jeff's  shoulders  bobbed  up  and  down  with 
silent  laughter,  and  immediately  he  became 
serious  again. 

44  As  soon  as  you  sign  this  paper,  Tim,  I  shall 
give  you  a  certified  check  for  seventy-five  thou- 


CONCL  USION.  253 

sand  dollars  on  the  Bank  of  Californy.  Are 
you  ready  to  sign  ?" 

"I'll  sign  me  own  death  warrant  for  that 
trifle,"  replied  Tim,  his  rosy  face  aglow,  as  he 
caught  up  the  pen. 

"Head  it  first." 

His  friend  read  : 

"  I,  Timothy  McCabe,  hereby  pledge  my 
sacred  honor  not  to  taste  a  drop  of  malt  or 
spirituous  liquor,  even  on  the  advice  of  a  physi 
cian  who  may  declare  it  necessary  to  save  my 
life,  from  the  date  of  the  signing  of  this  pledge 
until  the  Fourth  of  July,  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  seven." 

As  Tim  gathered  the  meaning  of  the  words 
on  the  paper,  his  eyes  expanded  ;  he  puckered 
his  lips  and  emitted  a  low  whistle. 

"Do  ye  mind,"  he  said,  looking  across  the 
table  with  his  old  quizzical  expression,  ' '  the  re 
mark  that  the  governor  of  North  Carliny  made 
to  the  governor  of  South  Carliny  ?" 

Jeff  gravely  inclined  his  head. 

"Fveheerdof  it." 

"  What  do  ye  s'pose  he  would  have  said  if 
the  time  between  drinks  was  ten  years  ?" 

44  I've  never  thought,  and  don't  care." 


254  KLONDIKE  NUGGETS. 

4 '  He  would  have  died  long  before  the  time 
was  up." 

'  *  "When  you  left  the  boys  in  the  diggings  you 
came  to  Dawson  City  to  spend  the  worth  of 
that  nugget  for  whiskey.  I  happened  to  meet, 
you  in  time  and  made  you  go  back  with  me. 
You'd  been  off  on  sprees  a  half  dozen  other 
times,  if  I  hadn't  kept  an  eye  on  you.  Drink 
is  the  enemy  that  will  down  you  if  you  don't 
stop  at  once.  If  you'll  stay  sober  for  ten  years, 
I'll  take  the  chances  after  that.  Are  you  going 
to  sign?" 

Tim's  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  paper  which  he 
held  in  his  hand.  He  mused  loud  enough  for 
the  listening  Jeff  to  catch  every  word  : 

"  To  sign  that  means  no  more  headaches  and 
bad  health,  but  a  clear  brain  and  a  strong  body; 
no  more  hours  of  gloom,  no  weakness  of  the 
limbs  and  pricks  of  the  conscience  ;  no  more 
breaking  the  heart  of  me  good  old  mother  in 
Ireland,  but  the  bringing  of  sunshine  and  joy 
to  her  in  her  last  days  ;  it  means  the  signing 
away  of  me  slavery,  and  the  clasping  to  me 
heart  of  the  swate  boon  of  liberty  ;  it  means 
the  making  of  mesilf  into  a  man  !' ' 

With  a  firm  hand  he  wrote  his  name  at  the 


CONCLUSION.  255 

bottom  of  the  paper,   and  flinging  down  the 

pen,  said  : 

4  4  With  God's  help,  that  pledge  shall  be  kept. ' ' 
"  Amen,"  reverently  responded  Jeff; 4'  there's 

your  check  for  seventy-five  thousand  dollars.7' 


THE    END. 


U.C.BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


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